Delta adds Iceland flights ahead of solar eclipse over Europe

Delta Air Lines has announced that a total solar eclipse will cross Iceland and Spain on August 12, 2026, and due to passenger demand it is adding two flights from New York (JFK) to Reykjavik (KEF) on August 8 and 9. The airline is not adding new routes to Spain or Portugal, but is instead highlighting its existing network, from which the path of totality is also accessible.

2026-08-05

According to a Delta Air Lines press release, a total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026, with the path of totality passing over both Iceland and Spain. The carrier says both countries offer visually striking settings for viewing the event.

To make it easier for passengers to reach Iceland ahead of the eclipse, Delta will add extra flights from New York (JFK) to Reykjavik (KEF) on August 8 and 9, 2026. According to the airline, this will create additional capacity and more options for travelers to arrive in time for the event.

Iceland: nature and totality. The eclipse's maximum phase will occur just off Iceland's west coast, with the path of totality crossing the western part of the country — including the capital Reykjavik and the surrounding southwestern region. Delta describes Iceland as a land of volcanic landscapes, glaciers, waterfalls and open vistas with minimal light pollution, making it a prime location for eclipse viewing, and ranks the event among the most significant astronomical phenomena of the decade.

According to Delta, travelers can also venture beyond the capital, for example to the Westfjords, the Snæfellsnes peninsula, the Reykjanes peninsula or Iceland's south coast, where open horizons and dramatic scenery await. The company notes that totality can be observed from a lava field, a black sand beach or even geothermal baths.

Spain: a summer spectacle under a darkened sky. According to Delta, the path of totality will cross the Iberian Peninsula from northwest to east, reaching areas from the coasts of Asturias and Galicia to Mediterranean Valencia, Tarragona and the Balearic Islands. Delta says that together with its SkyTeam alliance partners, it offers strong connectivity to these regions.

Delta passengers can reach the region via Madrid, Barcelona, or the Portuguese cities of Porto and Lisbon, and continue on to spots on mainland Spain where they will witness a so-called "double sunset" — the eclipse will occur in late afternoon, followed by a regular sunset. This, however, is part of Delta's existing route offering rather than new flights added because of the eclipse.

In its press release, Delta states that it operates daily nonstop flights from New York (JFK), Atlanta (ATL) and Boston (BOS) to both Madrid (MAD) and Barcelona (BCN), as well as service between Barcelona and Seattle (SEA) three times a week. These routes are flown using Airbus A330-900neo and Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.

The carrier also flies daily nonstop from New York (JFK) to Lisbon (LIS) and Porto (OPO). According to Delta, the Porto route is the airline's newest addition to the Portuguese market, linking the US East Coast with Portugal's Atlantic coast and northwestern Spain. Delta says that the northern coast of Spain's Galicia — the provinces of A Coruña and Lugo, located 190 and 250 miles from Porto respectively — will be one of the best places in Spain to watch the eclipse.

Eclipse date

Aug 12, 2026

Added JFK–KEF flights

Aug 8 & 9, 2026

Barcelona–Seattle route

3x weekly

Galicia from Porto

190–250 miles

Those interested in traveling for the eclipse or tracking these flights can follow Delta Air Lines routes JFK–KEF, JFK–MAD, JFK–BCN, BCN–SEA, JFK–LIS and JFK–OPO on map.flights.

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