Airlines and cruise operators are launching special trips for one of the decade’s most anticipated astronomical events, a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026. The eclipse will turn day into brief twilight across parts of Europe and the North Atlantic, with totality visible in northern Spain, Iceland and Greenland.
Most of Europe will only see a partial eclipse, but travel firms are offering passengers a chance to get closer to the path of totality. The options include a charter flight from London, a dedicated eclipse flight from Brussels, a 17-day cruise to the Arctic, and extra scheduled services to Iceland.
For travellers, the appeal is simple: better weather odds, a clearer view, and in some cases a moving observation point above the clouds or at sea. The packages are being aimed at astronomy enthusiasts as well as holidaymakers who want to combine the event with a wider trip.
Brussels Airlines has chartered an Airbus A320 for a special eclipse flight organised by the public observatory Volkssterrenacht Urania, in collaboration with the University of Antwerp and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The plane will depart Brussels in the early evening of 12 August and fly over western France towards the Nantes region, chasing the Moon’s shadow.
On board, passengers will have an unobstructed view. From Belgium, the eclipse will not be total, but Urania estimates that the Sun will be obscured by the Moon by about 89% to 91% at its maximum, shortly after 20:00 local time.
Another option comes from Ocean Explorer, which is offering a 17-day expedition into the Arctic. The cruise will cover more than 2,200 nautical miles and is timed for the total eclipse near the Arctic Circle, where the last total eclipse was seen in 2015 and the next chance comes on 12 August 2026.
The voyage will also include stops in north-eastern and southern Greenland, with iceberg, glacier and fjord scenery part of the itinerary. Passengers will also be able to hear from eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler, who will talk about eclipse viewing, astronomy and celestial mechanics.
Air Charter Service is taking a different approach, offering a same-day return flight from London Stansted on 12 August 2026 to one of three possible destinations, Valladolid or the Balearic Islands in Spain, or Keflavik in Iceland. The company says each location is among the best places in the world to see totality.
Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines are also adding services to help passengers reach the eclipse path in time. Delta will add extra flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy airport and Iceland on 8 and 9 August, allowing travellers to arrive days early and watch the eclipse from the ground within the path of totality.
Alaska Airlines will operate seasonal daily nonstop flights between Seattle and Reykjavik, departing Seattle at 18:35 and arriving the next morning at 09:00. That schedule gives travellers a full day to explore Iceland before the eclipse.
The total solar eclipse is expected to be one of the biggest travel moments of 2026 for astronomy fans, with aviation and cruise firms using the event to sell premium experiences linked to the rare celestial spectacle.
