Nashville Expands International Travel with New Nonstop Flights to Iceland and Ireland

Nashville, TN – April 10, 2025 – Nashville International Airport (BNA) commenced a significant expansion in its international flights on April 10, 2025, with the launch of a nonstop route to Reykjavik, Iceland. This marks the first new European flight from Nashville since 2018 and is part of a broader push to enhance international travel opportunities for the Tennessee region.

Flight Launch Details

The inaugural flight departed just after 9 p.m. on April 10, signaling the start of what is expected to be Nashville's largest surge in international flight offerings to date. This new route to Iceland is accompanied by the introduction of a nonstop service to Dublin, Ireland, which will be available from April 12, 2025. Mayor Freddie O’Connell celebrated the launch at a gate event. "BNA is not just the front door to the city, but it is getting bigger day by day," O'Connell stated. "What we're seeing today is no coincidence. It’s the result of hard work, massive support, travel data and certainly a little bit of faith."

With these additions, Nashville will increase its international routes from one European destination at the start of the year to three by the end of April.

Economic Impact and Airline Collaboration

The expansion comes as a result of a combined investment of approximately $10 million in incentives aimed at attracting both Icelandair and Aer Lingus, the two airlines responsible for the new flights. The projected economic impact for Tennessee from these routes is estimated to be as high as $102.3 million within the first year of operation.

Icelandair’s Chief Commercial Officer, Tomas Ingason, remarked, "Our aim is to bring the spirit of Iceland to the world, and there's no better way to do that than to start a new route to a new great place like Nashville." Both airlines have received significant support from local institutions, which included a waiver of landing and facility fees for the first two years of service.

Demand and Capacity

Before the introduction of these new flights, Nashville had a limited capacity of 272 daily nonstop seats available for travel to Europe. With the new routes, BNA will now offer around 1,400 daily seats, responding to the high demand evidenced by travel data showing that approximately 738 passengers travel daily from Nashville to Europe.

According to the President and CEO of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority, Doug Kreulen, the flights are expected to have distinct economic benefits: the Reykjavik route is projected to contribute between $29.2 million and $36.3 million, while the Dublin route's impact could reach around $66 million.

Attraction of the New Routes

The appeal of these routes is multifaceted. Iceland is viewed as a "gateway to Europe," providing easy connections to major cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, and London. Meanwhile, Nashville’s deep cultural and musical ties to Ireland, rooted in its country music heritage, have generated considerable interest in the Dublin flights.

Aer Lingus officials reported that their initial flights from Nashville to Dublin are nearly sold out. Ticket prices for these routes start at approximately $546, with some promotional fares available for as low as $299 for flights to Iceland during its introductory period.

Conclusion

The launch of these international flights is a pivotal moment for Nashville, enhancing its status as a travel destination while contributing substantially to the local economy. The city's leaders have positioned it to not only foster tourism but also encourage business development through improved connectivity with Europe.

As Nashville continues to grow its international travel offerings, residents and visitors alike will have more opportunities to explore the world directly from Music City.