Jazmin Li
Iceland is served by several airports, with Keflavík International Airport (KEF) being the largest and the main hub for international transportation. The airport is located about 50 km (30-31 miles) from the capital, Reykjavík, and is the arrival point for most international travellers to Iceland. It is operated by Isavia, a government enterprise, and offers flights to over 90 destinations. There are several other airports in Iceland, including Reykjavík Airport, which serves domestic flights and limited short-haul international flights, and Akureyri Airport, Egilsstaðir Airport, Ísafjörður Airport, Höfn Airport, and Vestmannaeyjar Airport, which exclusively handles domestic flights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main international airport | Keflavík International Airport (KEF) |
| Arrival point for most international travellers | Keflavík International Airport |
| Domestic airport | Reykjavík Airport |
| Distance between Keflavík International Airport and Reykjavík Domestic Airport | 50km (30 miles) |
| Airports in Iceland | Keflavík International Airport, Reykjavík Airport, Akureyri Airport, Egilsstaðir Airport, Ísafjörður Airport, Höfn Airport, Vestmannaeyjar Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is Iceland's largest airport
Iceland has several airports, including Reykjavík domestic airport, which is located within the capital city. However, Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is Iceland's largest airport and the arrival point for most international travellers. It is located on the Reykjanes peninsula, about 50 kilometres from Reykjavík city centre.
The airport was originally built by the United States military during World War II as a replacement for a British landing strip at Garður. It consisted of two separate two-runway airfields, Patterson Field and Meeks Field, built 4km apart. Patterson Field opened in 1942 and was named after a young pilot who died in Iceland. Meeks Field opened in 1943 and was named after another pilot, George Meeks, who died on the Reykjavík airfield.
By the 1970s, almost all international traffic was moved to Keflavík, with Reykjavík Airport serving domestic services and limited short-haul international flights. The two 3,000-metre-long and 60-metre-wide runways at Keflavík were large enough to support NASA's Space Shuttle, as well as the Antonov An-225. The airport is also an important diversion landing site for large aircraft in transatlantic ETOPS operations.
Keflavík International Airport has a range of shops, including duty-free stores offering cosmetics, sweets, alcohol, tobacco, and toys. There are also several clothing stores, bookstores, and souvenir shops. The airport provides parking solutions and car rental services, with various agencies located on-site. Icelandair recommends that travellers arrive at the airport no later than 2 hours before their departure.
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$11.12
Reykjavík Airport is for domestic flights and limited international flights
Iceland has several airports catering to both domestic and international flights. The largest airport in Iceland is Keflavík International Airport (KEF), which is located about 50km (30-31 miles) from the capital city of Reykjavík. It is the main hub for international transportation to and from Iceland, with most international travellers arriving in the country through this airport. The airport is equipped with essential amenities and services, including dining options, duty-free shops, and car rental agencies.
On the other hand, Reykjavík Airport, formerly known as RAF Reykjavik, primarily serves domestic flights within Iceland. It is located just 3 kilometres (2 miles) from the city centre of Reykjavík, making it a convenient option for travellers looking to explore the capital city and connect to other parts of the country. Reykjavík Airport also handles limited short-haul international flights to destinations such as Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Travellers flying into Iceland from Europe, North America, or Greenland will typically land at Keflavík International Airport and then transfer to Reykjavík Airport for domestic connections. It is important for passengers to collect their checked luggage at Keflavík and bring it with them to Reykjavík for re-checking. The distance between these two airports is approximately 50km (30 miles), and the transfer can be made by bus or taxi.
Reykjavík Airport offers quick and efficient connections to various domestic destinations in Iceland. For example, travellers can fly from Reykjavík to Akureyri in North Iceland, which is a 45-minute flight compared to a 4-5 hour drive. Another option is Egilsstaðir in East Iceland, which is a 1-hour flight from Reykjavík, significantly reducing the 9-hour drive between the two locations. Reykjavík Airport also provides daily flights to Ísafjörður in the Westfjords, a remote and picturesque region known for its wild landscapes and breathtaking waterfalls.
In summary, while Keflavík International Airport serves as the main gateway for international travellers to Iceland, Reykjavík Airport is dedicated to domestic flights and limited international flights, providing convenient connections to various destinations within the country.
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Akureyri Airport in North Iceland
Iceland has four international airports, one of which is Akureyri Airport, located in North Iceland. It is the only international airport in the north of the country and is situated around 3 kilometres (1.6 nautical miles) south of the town centre of Akureyri, Iceland's second-largest city. The airport is a 30-minute walk or a 5-minute drive from the city centre.
The airport opened in 1954 with a 1000-metre runway. A new terminal was constructed in 1961 and expanded in 1970 and 1996, with further renovations taking place in 2000 and 2009 to better accommodate international flights. In 2023, a new passenger terminal was opened, adding 1100m2 of space, including separate areas for international and domestic traffic, security checks, and passport control.
Several airlines operate at Akureyri Airport, including Icelandair, Norlandair, Easyjet, Edelweiss Air, and Transavia. Icelandair offers scheduled flights between Akureyri and Reykjavík, while Norlandair provides flights to Grímsey, Vopnafjörður, and Þórshöfn á Langanesi, as well as Greenland. Circle Air offers sightseeing flights in the area, and Myflug Air operates 24-hour ambulance flights and sightseeing flights.
Akureyri Airport is open all year round, with regular opening hours from 07:00 to 23:00 daily. It is closed on New Year's Day, Easter Day, and Christmas Day. Extended opening hours are provided in connection with charter flights.
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Egilsstaðir Airport in East Iceland
Iceland is served by several airports, including Keflavík International Airport, which is the main international airport and the arrival point for most travellers to the country. There is also Reykjavík Domestic Airport, which offers connections to the corners of the country with flight times of under an hour. One of the airports served by Reykjavík is Egilsstaðir Airport, a single-runway domestic airport in the largest town in East Iceland.
Egilsstaðir Airport is located just 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the town centre. It is served primarily by Icelandair, which operates flights to and from Reykjavík. The flight time from Reykjavík Domestic Airport to Egilsstaðir Airport is around 1 hour, and passengers can enjoy scenic bird's-eye views of Iceland's landscapes as they fly across the country. The airport is also served by charter flights from the UK.
Egilsstaðir is the capital of the eastern region of Iceland and is a gateway to the beautiful Eastfjords. The town is known for its location beside the narrow Lagarfljót Lake, which begins as a glacial river in the Eastern Highlands. It is also home to the largest forest in Iceland, as well as the mysterious monster that inhabits the depths of Lagarfljót Lake. The best time of year to visit is between April and September, when there are more hours of daylight and milder weather conditions. However, travelling to Egilsstaðir in winter can offer the chance to see the northern lights and snow-covered landscapes.
The town of Egilsstaðir is a connection between the northern, eastern, and southern parts of the country. From here, travellers can easily access Mývatn in the north, Seyðisfjörður in the Eastfjords, and Djúpivogur in the south, all within a couple of hours' driving distance. There are also plenty of natural spots to enjoy, such as the Hengifoss waterfall and Hallormsstaðaskógur forest, as well as geothermal bathing spots like Vök Baths.
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Ísafjörður Airport in the Westfjords
Iceland has several airports that connect the country to the rest of the world and make domestic travel easy. The Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is the main international airport and the arrival point for most international travellers to Iceland. It is located in the Reykjanes peninsula, about 50 kilometres from the capital city, Reykjavík, which is home to the Reykjavík Domestic Airport.
Travellers to Iceland from Europe, North America, and Greenland will land at Keflavík International Airport and passengers travelling onwards within Iceland must transfer from Keflavík to Reykjavík Domestic Airport. The distance between the two airports is 50 kilometres (30 miles), and travellers can either transfer by bus or take a taxi. Travel time is dependent on factors such as the time of day, traffic, and road conditions. Passengers should allow roughly 90 minutes for transferring by bus and about 60 minutes for transferring by taxi or private car.
One of the many destinations in Iceland that can be reached via domestic flights from Reykjavík is Ísafjörður in the Westfjords. This off-the-beaten-track region boasts magnificent wild landscapes and breathtaking waterfalls.
Ísafjörður Airport is located in the Westfjords region of Iceland, approximately 15 kilometres from the town of Ísafjörður. The airport serves as a gateway to the Westfjords region, offering stunning natural scenery and a host of outdoor activities. It is a small airport, primarily serving domestic flights, with limited facilities and services. The runway is paved and suitable for propeller and small jet aircraft.
The airport is accessible by road, with a parking area available for those who drive to the airport. There may also be car rental options available, as several car rental agencies operate within Iceland's airports. There are also taxi services available in the region, providing transfers to and from the airport.
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Frequently asked questions
The main international airport in Iceland is Keflavík International Airport (KEF), located about 50km from the capital, Reykjavík.
The main domestic airport in Iceland is Reykjavík Airport (RKV), located about 3km from the city centre.
There are several other airports in Iceland, including Akureyri Airport, Egilsstaðir Airport, Ísafjörður Airport, Höfn Airport, and Vestmannaeyjar Airport.
