SAS Adds Stockholm to Iceland Route: Midnight Sun, Hot Springs, and Questionable Life Choices Await

Pack your hiking boots and your sense of adventure—SAS is launching a new seasonal route from Stockholm to Keflavik, running June 22 – August 11, 2025. That means even more chances to chase waterfalls, climb glaciers, and realise too late that you should have packed an extra sweater.

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If you’ve ever dreamed of experiencing Iceland’s midnight sun, this is your golden (literally) opportunity. With overnight flights, you can maximise your time on the ground, perfect for a long weekend of volcano-spotting, hot spring soaking, and pretending you understand Icelandic place names.

Why This Route Is a Big Deal

• More Iceland for Everyone! SAS already flies to Keflavik from Copenhagen and Oslo, but now Stockholmers (and their Baltic and Finnish neighbors) can get in on the action too.
• No Time Wasted! The overnight schedule means you’ll land bright-eyed and ready to explore… or at least ready for a strong Icelandic coffee.
• Endless Daylight! Forget about setting an alarm—the sun won’t let you. You can hike at 2 AM, explore geysers at 4 AM, or just lay in bed wondering why you didn’t bring an eye mask.

SAS VP Henrik Winell sums it up nicely: “We are pleased that our travellers can take full advantage of Iceland’s extended daylight hours while also benefiting from our convenient schedule.” In other words: Fly in, stay up forever, and see everything.

SAS Adds Stockholm to Iceland Route

So, whether you’re after Northern nature, Reykjavik’s buzzing nightlife, or just an excuse to wear your best wool sweater in July, this new route has you covered. Just remember—Iceland’s beauty is free, but its beers are not, so budget accordingly.

United Airlines Expands Flights Summer 2025 With More Europe, More Sun, and a Surprise Stop in Montana

United Airlines is beefing up its Chicago O’Hare network for summer 2025, adding more flights to Europe, a transatlantic comeback for Reykjavik, and—because why not—Billings, Montana. If you’ve ever dreamed of a United flight whisking you away to Athens or Dublin straight from the Windy City, your moment has arrived.

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New Domestic Destinations (Yes, Montana’s on the List)

Starting May 22, United will initiate daily services to Ontario, California (ONT) or Billings, Montana (BIL). Ontario will be served by a Boeing 737-800 (as if LA traffic wasn’t bad enough—let’s add more flights), while Billings will have the Embraer E175 because the plane needs to get used to landing by the herds of bison.

Travellers hoping to leave the country without much hassle can now do so from Halifax, Nova Scotia (YHZ) which will join the schedule on May 24. The destination will also be served with weekly flights on the Embraer E175. Because who does not wish to switch from deep-dish pizza to the fresh seafood of the Atlantic?

United’s European Takeover: More Flights, Bigger Planes, and an Early Start

Europe is getting extra love from Chicago this summer, with United tweaking schedules, swapping aircraft, and sending more people across the Atlantic than ever.

• Athens: Daily service starts earlier than planned on May 1 and will now feature a Boeing 787-10, which means more seats, more legroom, and more people Instagramming their Greek island getaways.
• Barcelona: The route now kicks off on April 21, a full 10 days ahead of schedule, starting with a 787-10 before transitioning to a 787-8 on May 1. Translation? You’ll have extra time to sip sangria by the sea.
• Dublin: The Boeing 757-200 gets an upgrade to a 787-8 on March 29, bringing with it a smoother ride, more comfort, and fewer elbow battles over the armrest.
• Milan Malpensa: The seasonal route is back from April 7, a little later than planned but still in time for a springtime espresso at the Duomo.
• Munich & Paris: United’s doing a plane swap here. The Munich route downgrades to a 787-8, while Paris gets an upgrade to a roomier 787-10 on March 29. If you were hoping for more space to practice your German, bad news. But if you’re flying to France, enjoy the extra legroom.

Reykjavik Returns, Shannon Joins the Fun

Nordic lovers, rejoice! United is bringing back its Chicago–Reykjavik flights from May 19 to September 23, using a Boeing 757-200. That means more access to waterfalls, puffins, and whatever the Northern Lights decide to do that night.

Meanwhile, Shannon (SNN) gets a seasonal return starting May 22, also via a daily 757-200. Perfect for those looking to kiss the Blarney Stone or just find an Irish pub where they already know how to pour a proper pint.

What’s the Big Picture?

United isn’t just adding flights—it’s making serious moves to dominate transatlantic travel from Chicago. With bigger planes, better schedules, and more European destinations, summer 2025 is shaping up to be the year of Chicago jetting off to Europe like never before.

United Airlines Expands Flights Summer 2025

And hey, if Europe’s not your thing, there’s always Montana.

Icelandair Adds Miami to the Mix—Because Why Not Go From Ice to Beach?

Good news for all you winter wanderers: Icelandair is taking you from snow to sun with its shiny new Miami route. That’s right, starting October 25, 2025, Icelandair will be offering three weekly flights between Reykjavik and Miami, bringing you closer to those palm trees, warm breezes, and mojitos (we assume).

The flights will run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. During Iceland’s winter routine from November to March, these flights will be operated by the brand new Airbus A321LR, a slick looking addition to the Icelandair fleet. What does this mean? In broad strokes, it’s 8 hours of relaxed flying to one of the most important cities in America.

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Why Icelandair Adds Miami to the Mix?

Great question, you’re basically asking “Why not Miami?” Icelandair’s CEO, Bogi Nils Bogason (he sounds like someone you’d trust to know what’s up), explained that Miami is a perfect match for the airline’s already extensive network. From Miami, you’ll have easy connections to 34 destinations in Europe—so you can start your winter escape in Iceland and end up in the sun or snow of places like Paris, London, or Amsterdam.

Plus, with Icelandair’s ultra-fuel-efficient fleet, they’re doing all this with less environmental impact. How’s that for good vibes all around?

Iceland to Miami: It’s Not Just About the Weather

Let’s be real: if you’re tired of the cold (and who isn’t?), an Iceland to Miami trip sounds like the ultimate contrast. You’ll go from frosty fjords to sandy beaches faster than you can say “sunglasses and sunscreen.” So, get ready for those winter vibes, South Florida style!

Icelandair is giving you a new way to escape the chill and soak up some Miami heat. Book your tickets soon—because this flight isn’t just about the destination; it’s the smooth ride between two worlds.

Now you’ve got the scoop. Time to pack your bags, get those sunglasses ready, and start planning your winter getaway. And if you need to stop in Iceland on your way, well… you know you can.

PLAY Airlines unveils exciting New Schedule

PLAY Airlines unveils exciting New Schedule through 2026, and let’s just say it’s hotter than a summer day in Tenerife. The airline has rolled out a seriously exciting list of destinations that’ll take you from the U.S. to Europe, all with a side of Icelandic adventure (yes, please!).

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U.S. Cities to Jet Off To

Firstly, PLAY is taking you to major U.S cities like Boston, Baltimore, and New York. Who would have thought you could kick off your trip in the Big Apple and be having a croissant in Paris a couple of hours later? That’s the beauty of effortless transitions between the US and Europe with PLAY.

European Dream Destinations

But hang on, there’s still more. PLAY is not only for your corporate travel and business city breaks (even though Paris really does have a certain je ne sais quoi), but they also offer top-rated sunny locations like Tenerife, Antalya, Lisbon, and Madeira that practically yell, “take me to the beach right now.” If you're more of a culture and croissant sort of person though, maybe you would prefer a trip to Barca, Paris, and Amsterdam. Europe just opened up for you and it’s unlike any other continent.

Bonus Perk: Icelandic Stopover, Anyone?

And here's the twist; if you’re flying between Europe and the U.S., you can take a stopover in Iceland for 10 days at no extra cost. Yes, you heard it correctly. Truly, Ten. Whole. Days in the land of fire and ice. Icelandic volcanoes? Check. Northern Lights? Double check. A puffin or two might also be in the mix. All this without forking out a single penny more. It’s as though they're providing you with a complimentary holiday inside your holiday.

PLAY Makes Travel Fun and Flexible

Whether you’re flying solo, planning a romantic getaway, or gathering the whole crew for a group trip, PLAY Airlines is making sure you get there in style (and possibly with an Icelandic detour on the way). With this new flight schedule, the possibilities are endless, and your vacation just got a little more fun (and a lot more flexible).

Visa free Travel to China - 

China’s new visa-free policy throws open its doors to tourists from 195 countries, making it possible for visitors to come see this fascinating country. Making travel to China easier than ever before! The main purpose of the initiative is to greatly stimulate the tourism industry in China. The rich culture, stunning landscapes and vibrant cities of China are now accessible to visitors who will not be required to obtain visas.

The most fascinating aspect of such policy involves cruise ship travellers. For group tours that arrive in China on a cruise liner, you can enter the country without a visa for up to a fortnight. Thirteen coastal cities fit into this category including popular destinations like Shanghai, Tianjin, Dalian and Xiamen. Picture cruising into Shanghai and spending your days roaming busy streets with historic sites along beautiful waterfronts without having any immigration papers hassle!

Besides these cities, this visa-free entry will enable tourists to also visit their respective provinces directly under central government administration along the coast as well the capital city Beijing .You can see how great the Great Wall is ,walk around in the Forbidden City ,or feel the charm in different parts of China.

In addition to this, seven more cruise ports have been included in China’s expanded visa free transit policy that now covers: Dalian ,Lianyungan,Wenzhou,Zhoushan ,Guangzhou Shenzhen Beihai.Thus simplifying transit procedures for foreign guests sailing by sea.

However despite all these fabulous new policies, attracting international tourists has proven an uphill task for Chinese authorities recently. Nevertheless ASEAN/Schengen/Gulf countries are targeted by such bold moves made by Chinese leaders; it includes Thailand,Singapore,Malaysia and many European countries such as France ,Italy Spain or Germany.

Moreover apart from maritime routes china also focuses on airport-air connectivity improvement and expansion of high-speed rail lines to ASEAN countries and Europe meaning you’ll get smooth and fast travel options within China and beyond to improve your overall travel experience.

Some of the 195 countries that have Visa Free Travel to China 

• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
•  Kazakhstan
•  Azerbaijan
•  Armenia
•  Uzbekistan
•  Indonesia
•  Vietnam
•  Myanmar
•  Thailand
•  Malaysia
• Cambodia
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Kuwait
• Oman

With these efforts,China is not just opening its doors but will be rolling out the red carpet for international travellers. Whether you arrive by sea or air; this new visa-free policy makes visiting China easier as well as more attractive. So pack up and get ready to explore the wonders of China from ancient sites to modern marvels! The adventure of a lifetime awaits! 

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Icelandair Expands Its Horizon to Pittsburgh

May 16th saw the inauguration of Icelandair’s seasonal nonstop flight from Pittsburgh to Iceland, which is their sixteenth destination in North America. Many more people will now be able to easily get to Reykjavik and this is a dream come true for many. It’s great news for holiday makers as well, giving them an additional way into the US.

From May 23rd till October 31st, Icelandair's Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft will take off four times weekly into previously unseen heights. With its busy streets that are nothing like Iceland’s Otherworldly landscapes, this might be the way (or not) out.

Icelandair Spreads Its Wings To Pittsburgh

Bogi Nils Bogason, President and CEO of Icelandair said that this new route is crucial because North America has been their stronghold market with many Americans visiting Iceland each year.These bookings have also been encouraging thus far; there are bookings from 25 European cities looking forward to exploring Pittsburgh and local residents who have reserved flights to thirty different destinations across Europe!

Pittsburgh lies at the confluence of three rivers in western Pennsylvania and boasts more bridges than any other city in the world – hence its nickname ‘the city of bridges’. However, it is so much more than that. Located right in the heart of Pennsylvania there is plenty of culture, beautiful public parks, historic landmarks and enough sport activities for any sports fans - without forgetting all those fantastic outdoor pursuits just waiting on your doorstep!

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