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Akureyri Airport (IATA: AEY, ICAO: BIAR) is an international airport in Akureyri, Iceland, located approximately 3 km (1.6 nautical miles) south of the town centre. It is one of four international airports in Iceland and the only one in North Iceland. The airport is served by several airlines, including Icelandair, Norlandair, easyJet, Edelweiss Air, and Transavia, and offers both domestic and international flights. Akureyri Airport has been in operation since 1928 and has undergone several expansions and improvements over the years, including the addition of a new passenger terminal and ramp area to accommodate larger aircraft and an increasing number of passengers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Akureyri Airport |
| Airport Code | AEY |
| Location | 3 km (1.6 nautical miles) south of Akureyri, Iceland |
| Size | Third or second largest airport in Iceland |
| Number of Destinations | 7 or 10 |
| Number of Airlines | 4 or 5 |
| Number of Airports Around the World | 16 |
| Number of Intercontinental Flights | 3 |
| Seasonal Destinations | London Gatwick, Manchester, Copenhagen, Tenerife |
| Yearly Exceptions | Closed on New Year's Day, Easter, and Christmas Day |
| Services | Car rentals, bistro, duty-free shopping, information, parking |
| Bus Service | Sýlsi-ferðir, branded as 'Akureyri Airport Bus' |
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Location and transport
Akureyri Airport (IATA: AEY, ICAO: BIAR) is located approximately 3 kilometres (1.6 nautical miles) south of Akureyri, the largest town in Northern Iceland. The airport is just off the ring road (Route 1), which passes through the town.
Akureyri is the second or third-largest airport in Iceland, and one of four international airports in the country, serving the communities surrounding the Eyjafjörður fjord in the north. It is mostly used by domestic flights, although there are some international flights, usually in the summer months. The airport has non-stop passenger flights scheduled to 10 destinations in 4 countries, with 5 domestic flights currently operating. The 3 most popular routes are to Reykjavik, Vopnafjörður, and Grímsey. Other destinations include Þórshöfn, Greenland, Copenhagen, London, Manchester, Zurich, Tenerife, and Alicante.
Several airlines operate at the airport, including Icelandair, Norlandair, easyJet, Edelweiss Air, and Transavia. Icelandair operates the ground handling at the airport, including check-in and luggage. The airport has a bistro offering food, snacks, and drinks, as well as duty-free shopping for international travellers. Parking by the terminal is currently free, although there are plans to start charging for parking in the future.
The airport is accessible by car, with four car rental companies located on-site: Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Thrifty. Taxis are also available at the airport or can be ordered by phone or email. Since 2022, a local company called Sýlsi-ferðir has offered a pre-bookable bus service branded as the 'Akureyri Airport Bus', operating as route 100.
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Airlines and destinations
Akureyri Airport (IATA: AEY, ICAO: BIAR) is an international airport in Akureyri, Iceland, 3 kilometres (1.6 nautical miles) or a 30-minute walk/5-minute drive from the town centre. It is the second or third largest airport in Iceland and is open all year round. The airport is mostly used by domestic flights, but there are some international flights, usually in the summer months.
The airport has non-stop passenger flights scheduled to 10 destinations in 4 countries, with 5 domestic flights and 5 international flights. The 3 most popular routes are Reykjavik, Vopnafjörður and Grímsey, with 26 flights a week to Reykjavik, making it the route with the most departures. The one international destination is Zurich (ZRH) in Switzerland, with flights operated by Edelweiss Air. The route with the longest flight time from Akureyri is to Zurich, which takes around 3 hours and 45 minutes.
There are 4-5 airlines flying from Akureyri to 16 airports around the world, as of May 2025. These include Icelandair, Norlandair, easyJet, Edelweiss Air and Transavia. Icelandair operates the ground handling at the airport, such as check-in and luggage. Norlandair offers flights to Grímsey, Vopnafjörður, Þórshöfn and Greenland. easyJet offers flights to London Gatwick and Manchester in the UK. Transavia serves seasonal international destinations.
In 2022, Niceair began serving Copenhagen and Tenerife, but suspended operations in April 2023 due to bankruptcy. There are plans to increase capacity and introduce new international routes to the airport, as well as expand the passenger terminal and ramp area to accommodate larger aircraft and more passengers.
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History
Akureyri Airport (IATA: AEY, ICAO: BIAR) is an international airport in Akureyri, Iceland, 3 kilometres (1.6 nautical miles) south of the town centre. It is one of four international airports in Iceland and the only one in North Iceland. It is also the second or third largest airport in Iceland. The airport is located just off the ring road (Route 1), which passes through the town.
The history of Akureyri Airport dates back to the early days of aviation in Iceland. Scheduled air travel to Akureyri began in 1928 when Flugfélag Íslands ("Airline of Iceland") started flying seaplanes to Reykjavík, landing on the fjord of Eyjafjörður near downtown Akureyri. However, this airline was short-lived and ceased operations after only three years. In 1937, another airline, Flugfélag Akureyrar ("Airline of Akureyri"), was founded, and in 1940, it changed its name to Flugfélag Íslands, although it was not affiliated with its predecessor.
Over the years, Akureyri Airport has been served by several airlines, including Icelandair, Norlandair, easyJet, Edelweiss Air, Transavia, Neos, and Niceair. Icelandair has been a significant presence at the airport, providing ground handling services such as check-in and luggage, and offering scheduled flights to Reykjavík and Keflavík International Airport. Norlandair also operates several domestic routes within Iceland, including Grímsey, Vopnafjörður, and Þórshöfn.
In 2022, Niceair became the first airline specifically serving international destinations in northern Iceland, initially offering flights to Copenhagen and Tenerife. However, Niceair suspended operations in 2023 due to financial issues. Despite this setback, there are ongoing plans to expand the airport's capacity and introduce new international routes. This includes the expansion of the passenger terminal and ramp area to accommodate larger aircraft and increasing passenger numbers.
Akureyri Airport has also played a role as a diversionary airport for flights to Keflavík Airport, Iceland's largest airport. Notably, during the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull, many international flights operated from Akureyri when Keflavík airport was closed.
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Facilities
Akureyri Airport is located 3 kilometres (or 1.6 nautical miles) south of Akureyri, the largest town in Northern Iceland. The airport is also the third-largest in Iceland and is one of only four international airports in the country. It is open all year round, with regular opening hours of 07:00 to 23:00 daily.
Akureyri Airport offers a range of facilities for travellers, including:
- A bistro in the terminal offering food, snacks and drinks.
- Duty-free shopping for international travellers.
- Information services for arrivals and departures.
- Free parking by the terminal (with plans to introduce charges in 2024).
- Car rental services from Hertz, Avis, Europcar and Thrifty.
- Taxi services.
- A bus service operated by a local company, Sýlsi-ferðir, branded as the 'Akureyri Airport Bus'.
The airport has also undergone recent expansion, with a new passenger terminal opened in December 2024, adding 1100 square metres of space. The new terminal features separate areas for international and domestic traffic, as well as dedicated security and passport control facilities.
In addition to these facilities, the airport has a 35,000 square metre ramp area, which was opened in October 2023. This expansion is part of long-term plans to increase capacity and introduce new international routes to the airport, accommodating larger aircraft and an increasing number of passengers.
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Future plans
Akureyri Airport is one of four international airports in Iceland and the only one in North Iceland. The airport is located approximately 3 km south of Akureyri, the largest town in Northern Iceland, and serves as a gateway to the wider region.
Isavia and local tourism stakeholders have long-term plans to increase capacity and introduce new international routes to the airport. To achieve this, an expansion of the passenger terminal and the ramp area is necessary to accommodate larger aircraft and an increasing number of passengers.
In October 2023, a 35,000m2 ramp area extension was opened, requiring significant landfill material to be placed into the river delta. The expansion of the passenger terminal followed in December 2024, adding 1100m2 of space, including separate areas for international and domestic traffic, dedicated security and passport control facilities, and a duty-free store.
The airport also aims to establish itself as a safe diversionary airport for flights to Keflavík Airport, Iceland's largest airport. This need became evident during the 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull when many international flights were operated from Akureyri.
In addition to infrastructure developments, the airport plans to attract more airlines and destinations. As of May 2025, there are 5 airlines operating flights to 10 airports worldwide, with the route to Reykjavik being the most popular. The airport also offers the only direct flight to Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland, starting in May 2025, and is served by airlines such as easyJet, Edelweiss Air, and Norlandair, with the latter two offering direct flights to Zurich, Switzerland.
Akureyri Airport is well-suited for private jet operations, providing tailored services for private jet passengers and accommodating a variety of jet sizes with its 2,400-metre runway. LunaJets, a private jet company, offers flights to and from Akureyri Airport, catering to travellers seeking a luxurious and convenient experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Akureyri Airport (AEY).
The airport is located approximately 3km (1.6 nautical miles) south of the city centre.
It takes around 30 minutes to walk or 5 minutes to drive.
Airlines operating from Akureyri Airport include Icelandair, Norlandair, easyJet, Edelweiss Air, and Transavia.
Akureyri Airport has a bistro offering food, snacks, and drinks, duty-free shopping, and four car rental companies: Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Thrifty.
