COVID-19 travel information
Through travel we connect people and places, and connections are more important now than ever. We know you have questions, so we’ve prepared a list of answers to help you plan.
Safe travels - shared responsibility
We, together with Keflavík airport, are working hard to ensure your safety when traveling to and from Iceland.
You can contribute too. In short, this is what we ask of our passengers: stay at home if you show any symptoms of illness, wash your hands regularly, use hand sanitizer, and wear a face mask at the airport and during the flight. From March 23, 2022, face masks are optional on some flights, but always recommended. We may ask you routine health-related questions at any point during your travels to make sure you are fit to fly.
Safe travel is a shared responsibility. Below you can see what we are doing during each stage of your journey and what you can do as a responsible traveler.
- The HEPA – High Efficiency Particulate Air filters on board mean the air on board is better than in an office environment.
- The air supply is fresh – we do not circulate the same air on board for longer than 2-3 minutes as it passes through a series of filters 20-30 times per hour, providing a regular supply fresh of cabin air.
- When we all observe hygiene guidelines, we all contribute to cleaner air on board.
- According to studies on cabin air, there is low risk of any communicable disease being transmitted on board an aircraft.
- In October 2020, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released figures showing the very low incidence of in-flight COVID-19 transmission. In a period where 1.2 billion passengers traveled, fewer than 50 cases were reported where transmission is thought to have been associated with flying. Read more on IATA's website: Research Points to Low Risk for COVID-19 Transmission Inflight.
From March 23, 2022, face masks are no longer mandatory on some of our flights. Mask requirements on board depend on the rules of the authorities of your flight destination.
For more information, please read our update to face mask requirements.
What we are doing
- The airport is cleaned regularly.
- Kiosks, check-in counters, doorknobs, handrails and other touch points are sanitized multiple times a day.
- For your and our safety, hand sanitizers are available at the kiosks and check-in counters.
- Your checked baggage will be handled following our strict safety protocols.
What we ask of you
- Regularly wash and/or sanitize your hands.
- Use our Icelandair app or check in online to get your boarding pass. In this way you can minimize touchpoints on your journey through the terminal building and into the aircraft.
- Limit contact with people not in your travel group.
- Consider checking in all your luggage and skip taking carry-on with you to minimize contact with others on board.
What we are doing
- The following surfaces are specifically disinfected before you board: screens, seat belts and buckles, tray tables, arm rests and window shades, light switches and air circulation controls, head rests, overhead lockers.
- Restrooms are disinfected before you board.
- All passengers receive single-use hand wipes.
- Extra masks are available if passengers need one.
- On long-haul flights, we serve food that we have packed under the strictest safety conditions.
What we ask of you
- Do not travel if you feel ill or are showing any symptoms – even minor ones.
- Consider not travelling with hand luggage to minimize contact and limit unnecessary movement around the cabin. If you have hand luggage with you, place it under the seat in front of you rather than in the overhead compartment.
- If you are on a flight where face masks are mandatory, please wear your mask for the entire duration of the flight. The masks can be removed when eating and drinking.
- From March 23, 2022, face masks are optional on some of our flights, but we recommend their use.
- Stay in your allocated seat as much as possible during the flight. This is to minimize contact between passengers.
- Maintain personal space as best you can and show kindness and understanding towards your fellow passengers.