Reykjavik Airport: A Small Hub, Big Adventure

Iceland has a total of 13 airports, with four designated as international airports. Reykjavik Airport (RKV) is the main domestic airport serving Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. It is located about two kilometres from the city centre and is the domestic hub of Icelandair flights. The airport has two runways and is owned and operated by the state enterprise Isavia. It is sometimes referred to as Reykjavik City Airport or Reykjavik Domestic Airport to distinguish it from the larger Keflavik International Airport (KEF), which is located about 50 kilometres outside of Reykjavik.

Reykjavík Airport is 50km from Keflavík International Airport

The distance between Reykjavík Airport and Keflavík International Airport is approximately 50 km (30 mi). This distance is important to note when planning travel between the two airports, as a bus transfer of around 50 km is typically required when changing between domestic and international flights.

Keflavík International Airport, also known as Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport, is the largest airport in Iceland and the main hub for international transportation. It is located 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the town of Keflavík, Reykjanesbær, and 50 km (30 mi) southwest of the capital, Reykjavík. The airport has two runways, each measuring approximately 3,050 m (10,010 ft) in length. It is only used for international flights, and all domestic flights operate from Reykjavík Airport, which is situated closer to the city centre, just 3 km (2 mi) away.

Reykjavík Airport, also known as Reykjavik City Airport or Reykjavik Domestic Airport, is located in the Vatnsmýri area, which was once mostly uninhabited and marshy. The airport was originally built by the British Army during World War II, with construction beginning in October 1940. The first runway was constructed over sunken oil barrels by the Black Watch regiment and local Icelandic labourers. Today, Reykjavík Airport continues to serve domestic flights within Iceland and limited international flights to Greenland and the Faroe Islands. It also plays a crucial role in medivac, private aviation, and general aviation.

The two airports have played complementary roles in Iceland's aviation industry. In the early days, airlines such as Icelandair and Loftleiðir Icelandic operated from Reykjavík Airport. However, as they acquired larger aircraft, they transitioned to using the longer runway at Keflavík International Airport, which could better accommodate their growing operations. By the 1970s, almost all international traffic had shifted to Keflavík, leaving Reykjavík Airport primarily serving domestic and limited short-haul international destinations.

Keflavík International Airport is Iceland's main hub for international travel

Keflavík International Airport (IATA: KEF, ICAO: BIKF), also known as Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport, is Iceland's largest airport and the main hub for international transportation to and from the country. The airport is located approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the town of Keflavík and 50 km (30 mi) southwest of the capital, Reykjavík. It is operated by Isavia, a government enterprise.

Keflavík International Airport has two runways, each measuring approximately 3,050 m (10,010 ft) in length. The airport is only used for international flights, with all domestic flights using the smaller Reykjavík Airport, which is located just 3 km (2 mi) from Reykjavík's city centre. Reykjavík Airport also handles limited short-haul international traffic to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

The history of Keflavík International Airport dates back to World War II when it was built by the United States military as a replacement for a small British landing strip at Garður. It consisted of two separate two-runway airfields, Patterson Field and Meeks Field, built 4 km apart. Meeks Field, where the current airport is located, opened on 23 March 1943 and was named after a young pilot, George Meeks, who died on the Reykjavík airfield. In 1949, a passenger terminal was constructed, and in the 1960s, airlines began operating larger aircraft from the longer runway at Keflavík, leading to an increase in civilian passenger traffic. By the 1970s, almost all international traffic had been moved to Keflavík.

Today, Keflavík International Airport is a relatively small and easy-to-navigate airport, although it can still experience busy periods during rush times and peak travel seasons. The airport offers various services and facilities, including parking solutions, duty-free shopping, and a range of stores selling Icelandic and international products. It also serves as an important diversion landing site for large aircraft in transatlantic ETOPS operations.

Reykjavík Airport is used for domestic flights and limited Greenland flights

Reykjavík Airport is located within the city of Reykjavík, Iceland, and is used for domestic flights and limited short-haul international flights to Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The airport is about three kilometres (two miles) from Reykjavík's city centre.

The airport was initially built by the British Army during World War II, with construction beginning in October 1940. The first runway was built over sunken oil barrels by the Black Watch regiment and a large group of local Icelandic labourers. The airport was fully operational by March 1941 and was used by the British Royal Air Force during the war, under the name Reykjavík Field or RAF Reykjavik. Ownership of the airport was transferred to the Icelandic government in 1946.

Reykjavík Airport has shorter runways than the larger Keflavík International Airport, which is located about 50 kilometres (30 miles) outside of Reykjavík. Due to the shorter runways, Reykjavík Airport cannot accommodate larger aircraft, such as the Boeing 727 or the Canadair CL-44. As a result, by the 1970s, most international traffic had shifted to Keflavík International Airport, leaving Reykjavík Airport primarily serving domestic flights and limited international flights to nearby destinations like Greenland.

Reykjavík Airport remains important for domestic connectivity to rural areas and as a diversion airport for flights inbound to Keflavík International Airport. It also serves medivac, private aviation, and general aviation. However, there have been discussions about relocating or closing the airport due to concerns about its large land area, noise pollution, and environmental impact.

In terms of international flights to Greenland, airlines such as Icelandair and Air Greenland operate routes between Reykjavík Airport and destinations like Nuuk, Narsarsuaq, Ilulissat, and other airports on Greenland's east coast. These flights have helped to improve connectivity between Iceland and Greenland, providing alternatives to the previously limited options through Kangerlussuaq Airport in central western Greenland.

Keflavík International Airport has two runways, each 3,050m long

The largest airport in Iceland is Keflavík International Airport, also known as Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport. It is located approximately 3 km west of the town of Keflavík and 50 km southwest of the capital, Reykjavík. The airport serves as the main hub for international transportation in Iceland, with most international journeys to and from the country passing through this airport.

Keflavík International Airport has two runways, each measuring approximately 3,050 m in length. This length is significantly longer than the runway at the smaller civilian Reykjavík Airport, which is located within the city. The longer runways at Keflavík allowed for the operation of larger aircraft, such as the Canadair CL-44 and the Boeing 727, which could not be accommodated at Reykjavík Airport.

The history of Keflavík International Airport dates back to World War II when it was built by the United States military as a replacement for a British landing strip at Garður. The airport consisted of two separate two-runway airfields, Patterson Field and Meeks Field, built simultaneously just 4 km apart. Meeks Field, located in the northwest, opened on March 23, 1943, and remains the site of the current airport.

Today, Keflavík International Airport is a modern airport offering various amenities and conveniences, including free WiFi and duty-free shopping. It is a hub for airlines such as Icelandair and Play, and it is operated by the government enterprise Isavia. The airport is easily accessible from Reykjavík by road, with a newly rebuilt and paved road connecting the two locations.

Keflavík International Airport is 50km from Reykjavík city centre

Iceland's main international airport, Keflavík International Airport, is located around 50km (30 miles) from the capital, Reykjavík. The airport is situated on the Reykjanes peninsula, approximately 3km west of the town of Keflavík, and serves as the country's primary hub for international transportation.

Keflavík International Airport is a modern airport with a range of amenities, including free WiFi, duty-free shops, and various stores offering Icelandic and international products. It is also known for its efficient handling of short layovers and connections, with Icelandair and other airlines operating seamlessly within the airport. The airport has two runways, each measuring approximately 3,050m in length, catering to a high volume of international flights.

The smaller Reykjavík Airport, on the other hand, is located within the city of Reykjavík, just 3km from the city centre. This airport handles domestic flights within Iceland and limited international flights to Greenland and the Faroe Islands. It also serves medivac, private aviation, and general aviation needs.

Historically, Reykjavík Airport was the primary hub for airlines such as Icelandair and Loftleiðir Icelandic until the 1960s. However, with the introduction of larger aircraft that required longer runways, these airlines transitioned to Keflavík International Airport, which offered a longer runway. By the 1970s, almost all international traffic had shifted to Keflavík, leaving Reykjavík Airport to focus primarily on domestic services.

Today, passengers travelling to and from Reykjavík often utilise the bus services that connect the two airports, with a recommended transfer time of at least three hours between flights.

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