October showcases the importance of the Boeing 757, a popular aircraft among pilots and airlines. This mid-sized jet plays a key role in connecting the US to various European destinations, especially across the Atlantic. Three major airlines—United, Icelandair, and Delta Air Lines—rely on the Boeing 757 for their transatlantic services. Icelandair connects travelers to Iceland, which serves as a gateway to mainland Europe through connecting flights.
Icelandair’s fleet includes 13 Boeing 757-300s and 2 Boeing 757-200s. However, Icelandair will soon retire the 757-200s as it welcomes new Airbus A321LRs and A321XLRs. Despite this transition, Icelandair operated the busiest US-European route in September 2024. The leading route ran from Seattle to Keflavik Airport in Reykjavík, the airline’s primary hub. This route recorded an impressive 66 flights in September, providing 12,079 seats. Additionally, the second-busiest route from Denver to Reykjavík had 34 flights and 6,228 seats.
Icelandair also operated other busy routes, including Portland to Reykjavík, Newark to Reykjavík, and Chicago to Reykjavík. These routes highlight the airline’s extensive European connectivity.
In contrast, United Airlines dominates the Boeing 757 routes to Europe. Excluding Icelandair’s top routes, all but one of the top 20 busiest routes are United’s. The five leading routes include Newark to Edinburgh with 54 flights and 9,504 seats, Chicago to Dublin with 30 flights and 5,280 seats, and Washington Dulles to Edinburgh with 30 flights and 5,280 seats. Newark to Shannon and Newark to Dublin also featured 30 flights each, showcasing United’s strong presence on transatlantic routes.
Most of these routes originate from United’s major hubs, particularly Newark International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. While the Boeing 757 can handle long-haul flights, airlines often use it for shorter routes to Iceland and Ireland.
Delta Air Lines participates in the transatlantic market with its sole Boeing 757 route from Detroit to Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport. This service operated 22 flights in September, carrying 4,246 passengers and making it the 17th busiest flight. Delta has a substantial fleet of 126 Boeing 757s, the largest operator of this aircraft type. United follows with 61 aircraft, and Icelandair has a smaller fleet. Other significant operators include FedEx and UPS, which use Boeing 757s for cargo operations.
October highlights the Boeing 757 as it connects the US and Europe. Airlines like Icelandair, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines emphasize the ongoing importance of this aircraft in the transatlantic aviation market. Lastly, don’t forget to check WentWorld.com and follow our social media channels for ultimate travel tips and destination guides.
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