Air travel across Iceland has been hit by a fresh wave of disruption as Icelandair and United Airlines scrubbed more than a dozen flights over the weekend and into Monday, limiting both domestic connectivity and transatlantic links.

The cancellations, centered on Reykjavik and Akureyri but stretching out to Chicago, Houston, Amsterdam and several regional destinations, have left passengers facing missed connections, overnight delays and last minute rebookings during one of the darker and more weather sensitive periods of the Nordic winter.

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Widespread Cancellations Hit Icelandic and Transatlantic Networks

According to operational data compiled on Monday, January 19, 2026, a total of 16 scheduled departures were cancelled across three key Icelandic airports over the most recent disruption window. Those cancellations involved services linking Reykjavik and Akureyri with Isafjordur, Egilsstaðir, Hornafjordur and Nuuk, as well as major international routes to Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Chicago O’Hare and Houston George Bush Intercontinental. The pattern points to strain both on Iceland’s short haul network and on long haul services that connect the island nation with North America and mainland Europe.

Industry trackers report that Icelandair has led the list of affected flights on the Iceland side, while United Airlines has adjusted or withdrawn selected services involving Keflavik International Airport and key U.S. hubs. The combined impact has been felt most acutely by passengers attempting to use Iceland as a bridge between Europe and North America, a role that has grown more prominent as carriers expanded transatlantic schedules in recent years.

For local travelers within Iceland, the cancellations have added an extra layer of uncertainty in a country where air transport functions as a lifeline between coastal communities and the capital region. On some routes, the removal of even a single frequency can wipe out an entire day’s travel options, leaving residents dependent on weather sensitive road journeys or facing extended waits for the next available flight.

Reykjavik and Akureyri at the Center of the Disruption

Reykjavik, served by both Keflavik International Airport for overseas flights and Reykjavik Domestic Airport for internal routes, has again emerged as the focal point of the latest disruption cycle. Domestic flights linking the capital to Akureyri, Isafjordur, Egilsstaðir and Hornafjordur have been among those dropped, narrowing options for travelers trying to reach the north and east of the country. These domestic services are typically operated by Icelandair with Dash 8 turboprop aircraft inherited from the former Air Iceland Connect operation, and form the backbone of the country’s internal air network.

Akureyri, the largest urban center in northern Iceland and a growing tourism gateway, has been particularly affected. Airlines cancelled at least one key morning departure to Reykjavik that had been scheduled to leave around 09:20 GMT on Sunday, disrupting same day connections onward to international flights. Domestic flight status boards showed that certain Akureyri to Reykjavik services were either scrubbed or subject to timing changes over the weekend, forcing travelers to rearrange road transfers and accommodation at short notice.

The disruption underscores how closely Akureyri’s connectivity is tied to reliable operations from Reykjavik. Many inbound visitors rely on tight domestic connections after landing at Keflavik from North America or Europe, while Icelandic residents depend on evening returns from the capital for business, education and medical travel. When these key frequencies are removed, regional passengers often find themselves marooned far from home or forced into multi day detours.

Major Long Haul Routes to Chicago and Houston Affected

On the transatlantic front, the latest round of cancellations has hit flights linking Iceland with two of the United States’ largest hub airports: Chicago O’Hare and Houston George Bush Intercontinental. These routes, operated in partnership between Icelandair and United Airlines through codeshare arrangements, serve a dual purpose as both point to point services for leisure and business travelers and as feeders into wider North American and European networks.

Passengers booked on these routes over the weekend reported receiving last minute notifications of cancellation or significant schedule changes, with some being rebooked via alternative U.S. gateways such as Newark or via European hubs including London and Copenhagen. For those with onward connections, especially to secondary U.S. cities or to destinations in Latin America, the loss of direct Chicago and Houston links from Iceland translated into missed itineraries and longer total journey times.

The cancellations also come at a time when airlines are under pressure to balance demand driven schedule growth with operational resilience. Both carriers have been rebuilding capacity on transatlantic routes following several years of volatility caused first by the pandemic and then by shifting demand patterns. Removing flights on high profile routes such as Chicago and Houston signals that airlines are being forced, at least temporarily, to prioritize stability and aircraft availability over frequency, even on strategically important links.

Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Other European Destinations See Cuts

The effects of the disruption have also rippled across Iceland’s European network. Amsterdam, one of Icelandair’s key continental hubs, has once again appeared on the list of cancelled destinations. Earlier in January, a separate incident at Keflavik saw Icelandair cancel a morning Boeing 737 MAX 8 departure to Amsterdam, a move that left connecting passengers searching for alternatives at one of Europe’s busiest airports. The latest cancellations add further complexity to an already sensitive route, which is heavily used by transfer passengers heading to and from other parts of Europe and beyond.

Copenhagen, another vital Nordic and European gateway for Icelandic travelers, has also been impacted. Data from flight tracking services indicates that certain Icelandair departures between Keflavik and the Danish capital have dropped from the day’s schedule in recent weeks, including on dates close to the current disruption period. While some of these absences may be linked to broader schedule adjustments rather than day of operations cancellations, the net result for travelers is fewer choices and more crowded remaining flights.

Regional services within Iceland and to nearby Greenland have not escaped the turbulence. Flights to destinations such as Nuuk and small Icelandic communities rely on limited capacity and specialized aircraft. When one or two services are removed, the margin for reaccommodating passengers quickly evaporates, raising the likelihood that travelers on these routes will have to accept overnight stays or multi sector routings that can significantly lengthen journeys.

Passengers Face Long Queues, Rebookings and Limited Alternatives

For passengers on the ground in Reykjavik, Akureyri and affected overseas airports, the operational details translate into familiar scenes of queues at customer service desks, crowded terminal waiting areas and uncertainty over when they might reach their intended destinations. With more than a dozen flights removed from the schedule over a short period, airlines have had to juggle available seats across remaining departures, often prioritizing those with onward long haul connections or essential travel needs.

Travelers report being offered rebookings on later flights either the same day or on subsequent days, depending on seat availability. In some cases, particularly on the transatlantic legs, passengers were diverted to entirely different routings through third country hubs, adding extra stops to itineraries that were originally conceived as simple one stop journeys through Iceland. Anecdotal accounts also suggest that some passengers were encouraged to accept travel vouchers or partial refunds where suitable alternatives could not be arranged within a reasonable time frame.

Accommodation and meal support has been offered in varying degrees, largely depending on whether the cancellation was deemed to be within the airline’s control or linked to external factors such as weather. In Iceland, winter conditions can change rapidly, and carriers often cite safety as the overriding reason for grounding aircraft, a position that resonates with many local and international passengers despite the inconvenience caused.

Operational and Environmental Factors Behind the Disruptions

While neither Icelandair nor United Airlines has issued a comprehensive public breakdown of the causes behind each individual cancellation in this latest cluster, a combination of factors appears to be at work. Iceland’s challenging winter weather remains a constant operational variable, with snow, strong winds and rapidly shifting visibility frequently forcing adjustments to schedules, particularly at smaller regional airports such as Isafjordur and Hornafjordur.

On top of weather, ongoing volatility in aircraft and crew availability across global aviation continues to affect carriers of all sizes. Long haul fleets remain finely balanced between scheduled flying, maintenance checks and occasional technical faults. When an aircraft is taken out of service unexpectedly, airlines often have limited slack to cover the missing capacity without cutting at least some flights. For Icelandair, which is in the midst of a fleet transition away from ageing Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft towards newer Airbus A321LR models, this balancing act has become even more delicate.

Environmental conditions around Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula have also drawn renewed attention in recent years following repeated volcanic activity and seismic episodes. While the current disruption wave has not been explicitly linked to any new geological incidents, previous eruptions and earthquake swarms in the region have highlighted the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, including roads and utilities that support Keflavik Airport operations. Against this backdrop, airlines and airport authorities may opt for more conservative operating thresholds when weather or other risks are elevated.

Airlines Emphasize Safety and Advise Passengers to Monitor Schedules

Both Icelandair and United Airlines have reiterated that passenger safety remains their primary concern, particularly amid Iceland’s demanding winter flying conditions. Industry observers note that cancelling flights before departure, while highly disruptive, can be a sign that operators are acting cautiously rather than pushing aircraft and crews into marginal situations. For a country that relies so heavily on air links, maintaining confidence in safety standards is regarded as non negotiable.

Passengers with upcoming itineraries involving Iceland are being urged to keep a close eye on their bookings in the days leading up to travel. Airlines are encouraging customers to use mobile apps, email alerts and text notifications to stay informed of any late changes, and to verify departure times before setting out for the airport. Those with tight same day connections, whether domestic or international, are being advised to consider building in additional buffer time where possible to mitigate the risk of missed onward flights.

Travel agents and tour operators serving Iceland have also stepped up their communication efforts, flagging the possibility of last minute schedule shifts and advising clients on flexible booking options. Some packages now explicitly highlight the need for travel insurance that covers weather and operational disruptions, a reflection of the increasingly intricate risk landscape that surrounds aviation, particularly in northern latitudes.

What Travelers Should Do Next

For travelers whose plans have already been directly affected by the latest wave of cancellations, the immediate priority is to secure confirmed alternative arrangements and ensure that any entitlements to refunds or compensation are clarified. Passengers are typically advised to work first through official airline channels before turning to third party providers, and to document all communication, receipts and revised itineraries in case claims need to be submitted at a later stage.

Those scheduled to fly into or out of Iceland in the coming days on Icelandair, United Airlines or partner carriers should factor the recent pattern of disruption into their planning, especially if their journeys involve regional hops via Akureyri or other domestic airports. Building in longer connection times, traveling with essential items in carry on luggage and maintaining flexible accommodation plans can all help reduce the stress if schedules change at short notice.

Even amid the current disruption, Iceland remains accessible, with the majority of flights operating broadly as planned. However, the latest cancellations involving Icelandair and United Airlines are a reminder that winter operations in the North Atlantic can shift rapidly, and that passengers might benefit from approaching itineraries involving Reykjavik, Akureyri, Chicago, Houston, Amsterdam and other key nodes with a heightened awareness of the potential for last minute changes.