Roberta Aguirre
Iceland has 33 airports, but Keflavik International Airport is the largest airport in the country. It is located 50km southwest of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik, and is the country's main hub for international transportation. The airport is quite small and compact, with just one terminal, and spans an area of around 10 square miles (25 square kilometres). It has two runways, each measuring approximately 3,050m (10,010 ft). The airport is easily navigable and has all the facilities to meet the needs of arriving passengers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Southwest of Reykjavik, in the lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula |
| Distance from Reykjavik | 50km |
| Distance from Keflavik | 3km |
| Number of Runways | 2 |
| Runway Length | 3,050m |
| Number of Terminals | 1 |
| Terminal Area | 10 sq. miles |
| Number of Gates | 13 jet-bridge gates and 17 remote stands |
| Number of Passengers (2018) | 9.8 million |
| Number of Passengers (2023) | 8.5 million |
What You'll Learn
Reykjavik Airport is 2km from the city centre
Reykjavik Airport is just 2km from the city centre
Reykjavik Airport is the main domestic airport serving Reykjavik, Iceland's capital. It is conveniently located about 2 kilometres (1.25 miles) from the city centre. The airport is owned and operated by the state enterprise Isavia.
Reykjavik Airport is the domestic hub for Icelandair flights and has two runways. It is much smaller than the larger Keflavik International Airport, which is sited 50 kilometres (30 miles) out of town.
Being so close to the city centre, Reykjavik Airport is easily accessible by bus or taxi. There are some local city buses at both terminal buildings. The major BSÍ bus terminal is 1.6km (1 mile) from the main airport terminal.
Reykjavik Airport is ideal for those travelling within Iceland or to limited destinations in Greenland. The airport also services medivac, private aviation and general aviation.
A brief history of Reykjavik Airport
The Vatnsmýri area, where the airport is located, was mostly uninhabited in the early 1900s. It was the most ideal flat landing site for aircraft near Reykjavik. The first flight from the airport area was on 3 September 1919, with the takeoff of an Avro 504, the first aeroplane in Iceland.
During World War II, the British Army requisitioned the site and built an airport. Construction began in October 1940, and the airport initially operated with a grass surface. The Black Watch regiment, along with local Icelandic labourers, built the first runway over sunken oil barrels. The current runway layout was established during this period.
After the war, in July 1946, the British handed the airport operation over to the Icelandic government. Since 1947, the airport has been operated by Isavia.
Future of Reykjavik Airport
Since the 1960s, the future of the airport has been uncertain. In 2001, a referendum was held, with 49.3% voting for moving the airport out of the city centre, and 48.1% for it remaining in place until 2016.
As of 2024, no decision has been made to close or relocate Reykjavik Airport.
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The airport has two runways
The airport is the largest in Iceland and the country's main hub for international transportation. It is wholly owned and managed by the government corporation Isavia. It is also a hub for airlines Icelandair and Play. The airport is only used for international flights, with all domestic flights using the smaller Reykjavík Airport, which lies 3 km (2 mi) from Reykjavík's city centre.
The airport was originally built by the United States military during World War II as a replacement for a small British landing strip at Garður to the north. It consisted of two separate two-runway airfields, built simultaneously just 4 km apart. Patterson Field, in the southeast, opened in 1942, despite being partially incomplete. Meeks Field, in the northwest, opened in 1943, and is where the airport is still located today.
In 1949, a passenger terminal was built by the Lockheed Overseas Aircraft Service. In the following years, the terminal was mostly used for troop transport and transatlantic technical stops. In 1951, the U.S. military returned to the airport under a defence agreement between Iceland and the U.S.
The airport has since undergone several expansions and improvements, including the construction of a new terminal in 1987, which provided separate access from the military area. The terminal was named after Leif Erikson, the first European to arrive in North America.
In 2022, a major expansion of the airport began, with an eastern wing being constructed east of the main terminal. The expansion is expected to add 30% new terminal area, including new gates and retail spaces. As of 2024, a third runway has been proposed, along with new terminal piers and an airport city.
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It is owned and operated by the state enterprise Isavia
Reykjavík Airport, located just 2km (1mi) from the city centre, is owned and operated by the state enterprise Isavia. Isavia is the national airport and air navigation service provider of Iceland, operating all public airports and air navigation services across the country. The company's headquarters are at Reykjavík Airport.
Isavia was founded in 1945 as the Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration. In 2006, the operational services were separated from the regulatory authority with the creation of the government enterprise Flugstodir Ltd. In 2010, Flugstodir and Keflavík International Airport Ltd. were merged into a private limited company with 100% state ownership, Isavia Ltd.
Isavia operates all public airports in Iceland, including Reykjavík Airport, which is used for domestic flights only. The airport is much smaller than the international Keflavík Airport, with Reykjavík Airport featuring just a single runway and a more compact terminal.
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It is also known as Reykjavik City Airport or Reykjavik Domestic Airport
Reykjavik Airport (Icelandic: Reykjavíkurflugvöllur) is sometimes referred to as Reykjavik City Airport or Reykjavik Domestic Airport. This is to distinguish it from the larger Keflavík International Airport, which is located 50 kilometres (30 miles) outside of Reykjavik.
Reykjavik Airport is the main domestic airport serving Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. It is located just two kilometres (1 and 1/4 miles) from the city centre. The airport is owned and operated by the state enterprise Isavia.
Reykjavik Airport has two runways and is the domestic hub of Icelandair flights. The runways are shorter than those at Keflavík International Airport, so it serves only domestic flights within Iceland and limited Greenland flights. The airport also services medivac, private aviation and general aviation. It can also be used as an alternative airport for flights inbound to Keflavík, in the case of adverse weather conditions.
The airport has two terminals located on different sides of the runway area. The larger terminal handles traffic for Icelandair and Norlandair, while the smaller terminal serves flights for Mýflug and private aviation.
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The airport is used for medivac, private aviation and general aviation
The Reykjavik Airport, also known as the Reykjavík City Airport or Reykjavik Domestic Airport, is located about two kilometres (1.25 miles) from the city centre of Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. The airport has two runways and is owned and operated by the state enterprise Isavia.
Reykjavik Airport is primarily used for domestic flights within Iceland and limited international flights to Greenland and the Faroe Islands. However, it also serves several other important functions, including medivac, private aviation, and general aviation.
Medivac operations are crucial for providing emergency medical services and transporting patients to and from healthcare facilities. Private aviation involves the use of private aircraft for personal or business travel, often offering more flexibility and privacy. General aviation encompasses a wide range of non-commercial and non-scheduled flight activities, such as flight training, aerial photography, and recreational flying.
The airport's relatively close proximity to the city makes it an ideal location for these operations. It provides quick access to medical facilities, convenient travel options for business and leisure travellers, and a base for various aviation-related activities.
In addition to its role in medivac, private aviation, and general aviation, Reykjavik Airport also serves as an alternate airport for flights destined for Keflavik International Airport, which is located about 50 kilometres (30 miles) southwest of Reykjavik. This alternate arrangement comes in handy during adverse weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances at Keflavik.
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Frequently asked questions
Reykjavik Airport is a relatively small airport with a total area of 1.28 million square feet (119,000 square meters). It is a domestic airport, primarily serving domestic flights within Iceland and some flights to Greenland.
Reykjavik Airport has two asphalt-paved runways. The longer runway, designated as 01/19, measures 4,921 feet (1,500 meters) in length and 148 feet (45 meters) in width. The shorter runway, 13/31, is 4,134 feet (1,260 meters) long and also 148 feet (45 meters) wide.
Reykjavik Airport has a single terminal building that handles all domestic and international flights. The terminal is designed to be efficient and convenient for passengers, with a compact layout that includes departure and arrival halls, check-in counters, security checkpoints, and gates all within close proximity.
Yes, due to the relatively short runways and the airport's infrastructure, Reykjavik Airport mainly accommodates small to medium-sized aircraft commonly used for regional and domestic flights. Larger commercial jets typically serve international destinations and require longer runways, so they are usually handled by Keflavik International Airport, Iceland's main international gateway.
There have been discussions and proposals to expand Reykjavik Airport to enhance its capacity and facilities. However, as of now, there are no concrete plans for expansion. The focus has been on efficient utilization of the existing space and ensuring that the airport meets the demands of domestic and regional travel. Any expansion would require careful consideration of environmental impact and the need to preserve the unique landscape of the area.
