Lois Larson
Iceland has a total of 13 airports, with 4 designated as international airports. The airport designation for Iceland's main international airport is Keflavik International Airport (KEF). It is located at the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland and is approximately 31 miles (50 kilometers) from the capital city, Reykjavik. The airport was originally built by the United States military during World War II and has since become the primary arrival point for most international travelers to Iceland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of airports in Iceland | 13 in total, with 4 designated as international airports |
| Main international airport | Keflavík International Airport (KEF) |
| Arrival point for most international travellers | Keflavík International Airport |
| Distance from Keflavík International Airport to Reykjavík Domestic Airport | 50km (30 miles) or a 45-minute drive |
| Transfer time between Keflavík and Reykjavík airports | 90 minutes by bus, 60 minutes by taxi or private car |
| Former military airports | Naval Air Station Keflavík, RAF Reykjavik, RAF Kaldadarnes |
| Airports with scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines | Keflavík International Airport, Reykjavík Domestic Airport, Egilsstaðir Domestic Airport, Akureyri Domestic Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is Iceland's main airport
Iceland has a total of 13 airports, with 4 designated as international airports. Of these, Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is Iceland's largest and most prominent airport, serving as the country's primary international airport. Located at the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland, it is approximately 31 miles (50 kilometres) or a 45-minute drive from downtown Reykjavík, the capital city.
Keflavík International Airport is the arrival point for most international travellers to Iceland. Those travelling to Iceland from Europe, North America, and Greenland will typically land at this airport. Passengers travelling onwards within Iceland will then need to transfer to Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV), which is centrally located in the capital. The distance between Keflavík and Reykjavík airports is about 50 kilometres (30 miles), and travellers can transfer by bus or taxi.
Keflavík International Airport was originally built by the United States military during World War II as two separate two-runway airfields: Patterson Field in the southeast and Meeks Field in the northwest. In 1949, a passenger terminal was constructed, and in 1987, a new modern terminal was built, which fuelled Iceland's growth in commercial aviation. The airport has become a common stopover hub for travellers, offering international connections between Europe and North America.
Keflavík International Airport accommodates flights from numerous major airlines during peak seasons, including Icelandair, PLAY, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and British Airways. The airport provides various amenities, such as tax-free shopping and alcohol purchases. It also serves as a convenient gateway to nearby attractions, such as Iceland's Blue Lagoon, which is less than 30 minutes away.
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Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) is Iceland's main domestic airport
Iceland has a total of 13 airports, with 4 designated as international airports. Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) is Iceland's main domestic airport, centrally located in the capital city. It is approximately 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Keflavík International Airport, the country's primary international airport.
Reykjavík Domestic Airport offers routes to popular destinations within Iceland, such as Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, and Bíldudalur. The airport is within walking distance of the city centre, conveniently situated next to the Perlan Museum and Reykjavik University.
Passengers travelling to Iceland from Europe, North America, and Greenland will typically arrive at Keflavík International Airport (KEF). Those continuing their journey domestically must transfer from Keflavík to Reykjavík Domestic Airport. This can be done by bus or taxi, with travel times varying depending on factors such as traffic and road conditions. It is recommended to allow at least 90 minutes for transferring by bus and about 60 minutes for travelling by taxi or private car.
Keflavík International Airport is located at the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland. It was originally built by the United States military during World War II and has since become a common stopover hub for travellers, offering connections to Europe and North America. The airport is about a 45-minute drive from downtown Reykjavik and less than 30 minutes away from the Blue Lagoon.
In summary, Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) serves as Iceland's main domestic airport, providing convenient connections to various destinations within the country. Travellers arriving via international flights will usually pass through Keflavík International Airport (KEF) before transferring to Reykjavík Domestic Airport for their onward domestic journeys.
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History of Keflavík International Airport
Keflavík International Airport, also known as Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport, is the largest airport in Iceland and the country's main hub for international transportation. The airport is located approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the town of Keflavík, on the Reykjanes peninsula, and 50 km (30 mi) southwest of the capital, Reykjavík. It is Iceland's primary transport hub, with millions of passengers arriving every year.
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, about 10 kilometres away. It consisted of two separate two-runway airfields, built simultaneously just 4 km apart. Patterson Field in the southeast opened in 1942, named after a young pilot who died in Iceland. Meeks Field in the northwest opened on 23 March 1943 and was also named after a young pilot, George Meeks, who died on the Reykjavík airfield. Patterson Field ceased operations after the war, but Meeks Field was returned to Icelandic control and renamed Naval Air Station Keflavik after the nearby town. In 1949, a passenger terminal was built by the Lockheed Overseas Aircraft Service.
During the postwar period, as tensions rose between the superpowers, the US military signed a new agreement with the Icelandic government to re-establish a strategic airbase at Keflavík in 1951. Iceland was a founding member of NATO but had no military forces of its own, so the Americans took on the role of defending the country. However, the presence of foreign military forces in Iceland was controversial, and protests were held during the 1960s and 1970s, with people marching the 50-kilometre route from Reykjavík to Keflavík and chanting for Iceland to leave NATO.
In April 1987, the Icelandic government finished construction of a relocated civilian terminal on the north side of the airport, with separate access from the military area. The new terminal was named after Leif Erikson, the first European to arrive in North America. By the 1990s, Concorde flights were arriving at the airport. The US military base closed down and was handed over to the Icelandic Government in 2006. The original passenger terminal, defunct since 1987, was demolished in 2018 to make way for new development.
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Transferring between Keflavík and Reykjavík airports
Iceland's main international airport is Keflavík International Airport, which is the arrival point for most international travellers to Iceland. The airport was originally built by the United States military during World War II and was handed over to the Icelandic Government in 2006. It is located 50km (30 miles) away from Reykjavík Domestic Airport.
Passengers travelling onwards within Iceland must first transfer from Keflavík International Airport to Reykjavík Domestic Airport. When transferring between the two airports, passengers should collect any checked luggage from the baggage belt in Keflavík and take it with them to the domestic airport in Reykjavík to be re-checked in.
There are a few options for transferring between the two airports. One option is to take a bus, such as the Flybus or Airport Direct Economy. The Flybus operates in connection with all arriving flights at Keflavík Airport and offers direct transportation to Reykjavík City Centre. The journey takes approximately 45 minutes. Airport Direct also offers fixed-schedule transfers between the two airports. Another option is to take a taxi or private car between the airports. The travel time between the two airports can vary depending on the time of day, traffic, and road conditions, but it typically takes about 90 minutes to transfer by bus and 60 minutes to transfer by taxi or private car.
Reykjavík Domestic Airport offers flights to various destinations within Iceland, including Akureyri in North Iceland and Egilsstaðir in East Iceland. These flights typically have a duration of under one hour.
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Other domestic airports in Iceland
Iceland has a total of 464 authorised airports. The two most-used airports in the country are Keflavík International Airport (KEF) and Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV). Most international travellers arrive at Keflavík International Airport, which is located about 50 km from the capital, Reykjavík. The airport was originally built by the United States military during World War II and was handed over to the Icelandic government in 2006.
Reykjavík Domestic Airport is located within the capital city and operates domestic flights for Icelandair and Eagle Air. The airport offers flights to the Faroe Islands and Greenland, and is also where most helicopter tours of Iceland depart from. From Reykjavík, passengers can fly to all corners of the country with flight times under one hour. Some of the smaller airports that can be reached from Reykjavík include Ísafjörður, Egilsstaðir, Husavik, and Akureyri.
- Egilsstaðir Airport: Located in East Iceland, this airport is served by Air Iceland Connect, which offers multiple daily flights to Reykjavík, as well as flights to Ísafjörður and several destinations in Greenland. The region surrounding Egilsstaðir boasts tranquil fjords, forests, lakes, and mountains for travellers to explore.
- Ísafjörður Airport: This airport is situated in the Westfjords region, known for its wild landscapes and breathtaking waterfalls.
- Akureyri Airport: Akureyri is Iceland's second-largest city, home to around 18,000 people. It sits at the end of the country's longest fjord in North Iceland.
- Vestmannaeyjar Airport: Vestmannaeyjar, also known as the Westman Islands, is a completely isolated settlement off the south shore of Iceland.
- Hornafjordur Airport
- Husavik Airport
- Myvatn Airport
It is important to note that travellers flying to or within Iceland may need to transfer between Keflavík International Airport and Reykjavík Domestic Airport. These airports are about 50 km apart, and travellers should allow sufficient time for transferring between them, including collecting and re-checking luggage.
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Frequently asked questions
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is Iceland's primary international airport. It is located at the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland.
Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) is located in the capital city of Reykjavík. It primarily operates domestic flights within Iceland but also facilitates a few international flights.
Iceland has a total of 13 airports, with 4 designated as international airports. Besides Keflavík and Reykjavík, Egilsstaðir Domestic Airport (EGS) and Akureyri Domestic Airport (AEY) are significant hubs for domestic travel.
