# Transatlantic Midwest Gateway Routes Icelandair Adds St. Louis as Its 16th U.S. Gateway for 2027 By Adam Harrie | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-10-10 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/transatlantic-midwest-gateway-routes References: [thepointsguy](https://thepointsguy.com/news/icelandair-lands-in-st-louis-with-southwest-airlines)  Icelandair is bringing St. Louis into its U.S.-Europe network with a route that offers travelers another way to connect between North America, Iceland and Europe via [partner Southwest Airlines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/southwest-airline). The service links Keflavik International Airport near Reykjavík with St. Louis Lambert International Airport, making it Icelandair's 16th U.S. gateway and the airline's first 2027 addition west of the Atlantic. Flights begin May 14, 2027, and the seasonal run continues until Oct. 24, 2027, with service scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Travelers can also take advantage of Icelandair's [free stopover in Iceland](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/winter-flight-programs) for up to 7 days. Because Southwest is the busiest airline at STL, the route opens a practical new transfer point for fliers departing from cities beyond St. Louis. It also gives STL a third European carrier, joining British Airways and Lufthansa, and revives a KEF link last flown there by WOW Air. Image Credit: Shutterstock/Kevin Hackert ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.1/10 - Popularity: 15% | Activity: 9% | Freshness: 100% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Secondary City Transatlantic Gateways:** Mid-sized U.S. airports are gaining relevance as international carriers bypass crowded coastal hubs and create new Europe access points for underserved regional travelers. - **Stopover-based Travel Itineraries:** Free multi-day stopovers are reshaping long-haul trip planning by turning connection points into added destination value for leisure and hybrid travelers. - **Partner-enabled Network Expansion:** Airline partnerships are expanding route viability by using domestic feeder traffic to support international services in markets with limited direct overseas demand. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Commercial Aviation:** Seasonal transatlantic routes show how carriers can test demand and diversify gateway portfolios without committing to year-round capacity. - **Airport Operations:** Regional airports with strong domestic connectivity are becoming more competitive as transfer hubs for international airlines seeking lower-cost market entry. - **Travel and Tourism:** Iceland-linked itineraries create fresh packaging potential for tourism providers combining Nordic stopovers with broader European vacations. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Non-Stop Flight Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-transat-adds-agadir.md) - [Satellite-Connected Flights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inflight-internet-services.md) - [Colorful Promotional Travel Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/curaao-tourist-board.md) - [Seasonal Patagonian Flight Routes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seasonal-patagonian-flight-routes.md) - [Airline Starlink Wi‑Fi Upgrades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Starlink-onboard-Wi-Fi.md) - [Dual-Hub Air Routes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dual-hub-air-routes.md) - [Unique Non-Stop Routes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dakar-and-reykjavik.md) - [European Destination Flights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tirana-albania.md) - [Nonstop Air Routes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nonstop-regional-flights.md)