Reykjavík Calling: Nonstop Connection from Pittsburgh to Iceland Facilitates “Transatlantic Marathon”
The Pittsburgh Marathon and the Íslandsbanki Reykjavík Marathon have been dubbed “sister races” in a new international partnership.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK
Pittsburgh’s nonstop connection to Iceland is back in time for the summer travel season — and this year, it’s helping to facilitate a transatlantic marathon.
On Friday, May 8, Icelandair resumed its seasonal nonstop flights between Pittsburgh and Reykjavik for the third consecutive year. The airline will offer up to four flights a week to the Icelandic capital, with nonstop service running through Oct. 18.
Since launching service between Pittsburgh and Reykjavik in 2024, Icelandair has become a key carrier connecting the region’s business and leisure travelers to Iceland and over 25 connecting markets throughout Europe. Icelandair also offers its unique stopover option allowing travelers connecting to and from Europe to book a layover in Iceland for up to seven days at no additional cost, according to Blue Sky News.
This year, marathon runners who participated in the Pittsburgh Marathon in May will also have the opportunity to join Iceland’s big race later in the summer, thanks to a new partnership made possible by Icelandair’s nonstop service.
Held annually, the Íslandsbanki Reykjavík Marathon, scheduled for Aug. 22, is Iceland’s largest running event and often coincides with the city’s Culture Night. Featuring a variety of races and events, including a full marathon, half-marathon, 10K and fun run, it attracts about 16,000 international participants to its scenic, generally flat city course each year.
“At our core, both marathons are about bringing people together, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and creating moments that stay with runners long after they cross the finish line,” Hrefna Hlín Sveinbjörnsdóttir, race director of the Íslandsbanki Reykjavík Marathon, says in a statement.
The partnership was officially launched in January; in a statement, P3R, the group that organizes the Pittsburgh Marathon, says it invites runners to “experience two distinctly different, yet equally unforgettable, destinations through the shared passion of running.”
From Pittsburgh’s hills, yellow bridges and unique neighborhood character to Iceland’s comparatively flat plateaus, colorful streets, coastal views and dramatic natural landscapes, the two “sister marathons” aim to inspire runners to explore the world — one finish line at a time.
“For runners who love to travel, this partnership opens the door to unforgettable, bucket-list experiences, offering two very different races that showcase the heart, character and beauty of their cities,” Troy Schooley, P3R CEO, says in a statement. “Both marathons are powered by their communities, and this collaboration allows us to highlight the people, neighborhoods and volunteers who make race day special in Pittsburgh and Reykjavík.”
As sister marathons, the two events will collaborate on destination-driven storytelling, highlight runners traveling between Pittsburgh and Iceland and explore curated travel opportunities that encourage participants to “Run Pittsburgh, Experience Reykjavík” — and vice versa.
Jerad Bachar, VisitPITTSBURGH president and CEO, noted Icelandair’s nonstop service between Pittsburgh and Reykjavik was vital to the partnership between races, and to the shared goal of driving tourism in both cities.
“This partnership marks a significant milestone in P3R’s efforts to grow the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon’s global footprint and further drive its economic impact on our region,” he says in a statement. “By leveraging the convenient connectivity of the Icelandair direct flight, we look forward to welcoming more global athletes and spectators to experience the very best of Pittsburgh.”
Icelandair resuming seasonal service to Reykjavik comes weeks after British Airways increased its London-Heathrow nonstop flights, returning to its daily flight schedule for the summer, and as PIT readies to welcome Aer Lingus’ new four times weekly service to Dublin, Ireland, launching May 25. The airport now boasts its largest schedule of flights to Europe since 2018.
