The first scheduled direct flight between China and Iceland landed at Keflavík International Airport today, following a stopover in Copenhagen, according to reports from RÚV and mbl.is. The new service is operated by Air China and marks the first time regular flights have connected China with Iceland’s main international gateway. mbl.is first reported the story.
Air China will operate the route three times per week, though the exact days and times of service have not yet been stated in public sources. The opening of this route has already drawn significant attention, including from passengers on board who reportedly welcomed the convenience of direct travel. One unnamed passenger told RÚV, “Just one plane and you’re in China.”
He Rulong, the Chinese ambassador to Iceland, celebrated the inaugural flight as a milestone for bilateral relations. In comments reported by mbl.is, He Rulong called the Air China service the best gift for the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He also told RÚV, “This changes the relations between the nations.” (quotes translated from Icelandic).
Keflavík International Airport is Iceland’s largest airport and principal international transport hub, located about 50 kilometres southwest of Reykjavík and operated by Isavia, a government enterprise. Domestic flights in Iceland use the smaller Reykjavík Airport.
Sources
- mbl.is (first reported) in Icelandic
- RÚV in Icelandic
Image: © European Union, 2026 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) · licence, original (resized) Illustrative image.
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