Faroe Islands: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

The Faroe Islands is a self-governing territory with just one airport: Vágar Airport, located on Vágar Island in the western part of the country. The airport is situated between Lake Leitisvatn and the village of Sørvágur, 46 km (29 miles) west of the capital, Tórshavn. It is the main operating base for the Faroese national airline, Atlantic Airways, and was originally built by British Army Royal Engineers during World War II.

Vágar Airport is the only airport in the Faroe Islands

The airport was originally built by British Army Royal Engineers during World War II, chosen for its inconspicuous location, hidden from the surrounding waters and any potential German warships. The first aeroplane landed in Autumn 1942. After the war, the airfield was abandoned until 1963, when it was reopened as a civilian airport.

Today, Vágar Airport is the main operating base for the Faroese national airline, Atlantic Airways. It is also served by other airlines, including Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and Icelandair. The airport has a single runway, which was extended in 2011 to accommodate a greater variety of aircraft and allow for flights to farther destinations. A new terminal was inaugurated in 2014, offering improved facilities and amenities for passengers.

The Faroe Islands experience a limited flight traffic, with no more than 15 flights arriving and departing daily, even during the peak travel season in July. This contributes to a calm and relaxed atmosphere at the airport, with minimal queues and crowds. The small size of the airport means that travellers do not need to arrive more than an hour before their outbound flight. Vágar Airport is easily accessible from the capital, with a 40-minute drive or several daily bus departures to Tórshavn.

It is located on Vágar Island

Vágar Airport (IATA: FAE, ICAO: EKVG) is the only airport in the Faroe Islands. It is located on Vágar Island, 46 km (29 miles) west of the capital, Tórshavn. The airport is situated 1 NM (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) east of the village of Sørvágur, between Sørvágur and Lake Leitisvatn.

The airport was initially built by British Army Royal Engineers during World War II. The site was chosen for its strategic location, which made it difficult for German warships to spot from the surrounding waters. After the war, the airfield was abandoned until 1963, when it was reopened as a civilian airport. Since then, Vágar Airport has undergone significant development, including an extension of the runway to accommodate a greater variety of aircraft and the addition of a new terminal in 2014.

The airport is the main operating base for the Faroese national airline, Atlantic Airways. It offers a calm and spacious atmosphere with minimal queues and a stress-free travel experience. The airport is also known for its breathtaking views during landing, with passengers able to see the famous Trælanípa Cliff, the spiky islet Tindhólmur, and the valley and village of Gásadalur, depending on the approach direction.

Travellers can easily access Tórshavn from Vágar Airport, with a 40-minute drive or several daily bus departures. The airport also provides taxi services, and car rental agencies offer pickup services at the airport. Vágar Airport serves as the port of arrival for most visitors to the Faroe Islands, offering a convenient gateway to the country's natural attractions and tranquil surroundings.

It was established during World War II by the British Army

Vágar Airport (IATA: FAE, ICAO: EKVG) is the only airport in the Faroe Islands. It was established during World War II by the British Army, specifically the Royal Engineers. The airport was constructed on the island of Vágar, east of the village of Sørvágur. The site was chosen for its strategic location, hidden from the surrounding waters and potential German warships. The British had previously built Reykjavík Airport in Iceland in 1940, following the British occupation of the country.

The first aeroplane landed at Vágar Airport in Autumn 1942. After the war, the airfield was abandoned and left unused until 1963 when it was reopened as a civilian airport, thanks to the efforts of two Sørvágur residents, Hugo Fjørðoy and Lars Larsen. They worked with the Icelandic airline Icelandair to establish scheduled flights to Bergen, Copenhagen, and Glasgow. Since then, the airport has undergone several developments, including an extension of the runway in 2011, allowing for a greater variety of aircraft to be used.

The airport is currently managed by the Danish Transport Authority, although ownership was handed over to the Faroese government in 2007. It serves as the main operating base for the Faroese national airline, Atlantic Airways. It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, including the famous Trælanípa Cliff and the 'floating lake' Leitisvatn. The airport is a 40-minute drive from the capital, Tórshavn, and provides a calm and stress-free travel experience with minimal queues and crowds.

It is a 40-minute drive from Vágar Airport to the capital, Tórshavn

The Faroe Islands' only airport is Vágar Airport, which is located on the island of Vágar. The airport is situated 1.2 miles east of the village of Sørvágur and 29 miles west of the capital, Tórshavn. It takes approximately 40 minutes to drive from Vágar Airport to Tórshavn.

The airport was initially built by British Army Royal Engineers during World War II, but it was abandoned after the war and left unused until 1963, when it was reopened as a civilian airport. Since then, the airport has undergone several improvements, including the construction of a new terminal in 2014, which offers a tax-free shop, restaurant, bar, resting area, and a new arrival hall.

The distance from Vágar Airport to Tórshavn was significantly reduced in 2002 with the opening of the Vágatunnilin, a tolled road tunnel, which provides direct road access to the neighbouring island of Streymoy, where Tórshavn is located. This tunnel not only improved travel time but also made it more convenient to access the capital city and other major towns and villages in the Faroe Islands.

There are several transportation options available to get from Vágar Airport to Tórshavn. In addition to the 40-minute drive, there are daily bus departures from the airport to the capital, and taxi services are also available. The bus ride from the airport to Tórshavn takes approximately one hour, and there are about ten bus services in each direction per day.

There are daily flights to Copenhagen and weekly/seasonal flights to other destinations

The Faroe Islands' only airport, Vágar Airport, offers daily flights to Copenhagen and weekly/seasonal flights to other destinations. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has daily flights to Copenhagen and is the main competitor to the local airline, Atlantic Airways, which also operates flights to Copenhagen.

The local airline, Atlantic Airways, offers flights to other destinations, including seasonal flights to Stewart Airport, 110 kilometres from New York City, and Reykjavík–Keflavík. In addition, there are weekly and seasonal flights to other destinations in Europe, such as Billund, Oslo, Edinburgh, London, Bergen, Paris, and Barcelona. These flights are operated by various airlines, including Icelandair and Widerøe.

The airport is located on Vágar Island, between the village of Sørvágur and Lake Leitisvatn, and is approximately a 40-minute drive from the capital, Tórshavn. It is easily accessible by bus or taxi, and car rental agencies offer pickup services at the airport as well.

The airport has a relaxed atmosphere with minimal queues and a spacious terminal that includes a tax-free shop, restaurant, bar, and resting area. The runway has been extended to accommodate a greater variety of aircraft and allow for flights to farther destinations.

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