Boom in American visitors prompts Icelandair to launch year‑round Bergen route

American travellers are flocking to Bergen in record numbers — and Icelandair’s decision to extend its Bergen route year‑round is set to make the fjord capital even more accessible for this rapidly growing market.

Bergen’s popularity in the United States has surged in recent years. According to new figures from Statistics Norway, overnight stays by U.S. visitors have jumped by 73.5 percent between 2019 and 2025, making Americans the city’s largest group of international visitors.

“We’re thrilled that Americans have taken such a strong liking to our city, and that they visit Bergen year-round to experience everything it has to offer,” says Anders Nyland, CEO of Visit Bergen.

To meet this rising demand, Icelandair is now expanding its seasonal Bergen service into a year‑round route. After several years of operating daily flights in spring, summer, and autumn, the airline will begin winter operations with two weekly departures on Thursdays and Sundays. The schedule is coordinated with connections through Icelandair’s hub in Keflavík, ensuring smooth access from a wide range of North American cities.

“Bergen has a unique role as Norway’s year‑round coastal capital. A year‑round route makes it easier to travel to the fjords, the coast, and Western Norway even in winter. At the same time, we are strengthening our entire winter network in combination with the launch of Tromsø. This also creates excellent opportunities in connection with the coastal route, Hurtigruten, and Havila,” says Bjørn Tore Larsen, Sales Manager at Icelandair Norway.

With American interest in Bergen at an all‑time high, the expanded route is expected to further boost winter tourism and strengthen Western Norway’s position as an increasingly attractive transatlantic destination.