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Iceland has several airports scattered across the country, with two that are the most well-known: Keflavík International Airport (KEF) and Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV). These two airports are often confused with one another, with even locals sometimes referring to both as the Reykjavík Airport. Keflavík Airport is Iceland's international airport, located about 30 miles from the capital city of Reykjavík. It is the largest airport in Iceland and the main hub for international transportation, with most international flights to and from the country passing through this airport. On the other hand, Reykjavík Airport is located within the capital city and primarily operates domestic flights, with the exception of flights to Greenland as an international destination.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of airports | 2 primary airports, 9 domestic airports, and several smaller airfields |
| Main international airport | Keflavík International Airport (KEF) |
| Main domestic airport | Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) |
| Location of Keflavík International Airport | 50 km (30-31 miles) from Reykjavík, at the tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland |
| Location of Reykjavík Domestic Airport | Within Reykjavík's city centre |
| Transport options between Keflavík and Reykjavík | Rental car, bus, taxi, shuttle |
| Other notable domestic airports | Egilsstaðir Domestic Airport (EGS), Akureyri Domestic/International Airport (AEY), Ísafjörður Airport (IFJ), Hofn Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Keflavík International Airport
Iceland has several airports catering to domestic and international flights. One of the primary international airports in the country is Keflavík International Airport (KEF). Located in the southwestern region of Iceland, it is approximately 31 miles (50 kilometres) from downtown Reykjavik, the capital city. The airport is linked to Reykjavik via a 50-kilometre (30-mile) route on the Route 41 dual carriageway.
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 kilometres apart. Patterson Field in the southeast opened in 1942, despite being partly incomplete, and was named after a young pilot who died in Iceland. Meeks Field in the northwest opened on 23 March 1943 and was named after another young pilot, George Meeks, who died on the Reykjavík airfield. The airport is still located at the site of Meeks Field. Patterson Field was closed after the war, but Meeks Field and the adjoining structures were returned to Iceland's control and were renamed Naval Air Station Keflavík, named after the nearby town. In 1949, a passenger terminal was built by the Lockheed Overseas Aircraft Service.
The presence of US military forces in Iceland under the NATO-sponsored Iceland–US Defence Agreement of 1951 was controversial, and protests were held during the 1960s and 1970s to oppose the military presence at the airport. In April 1987, the Icelandic government finished constructing a relocated civilian terminal on the north side of the airport. The US military base closed down and was handed over to the Icelandic government in 2006.
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Reykjavík Domestic Airport
The airport is accessible by road from Hringbraut/Route 49 and then continues onto Njarðargata. There is parking available just outside the two airport terminals, and it is free of charge. There are no train connections directly from the airport, but there are scheduled public transportation bus services (Strætó) operating from both terminals. Buses depart just outside the passenger terminals. Taxis are also available, and there are several major rental car companies at the airport, including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, and the local car hire company, RAS. It is recommended to make car hire reservations in advance due to the limited number of vehicles available.
Reykjavík Airport was constructed by the British Army during World War II, when Iceland was occupied by the British. Construction began in October 1940, and the airport was mostly fully operational from March 1941. The British Royal Air Force operated from the airport during the war, then named Reykjavík Field, or RAF Reykjavik. After the end of the occupation, in July 1946, the British handed the airport operation over to the Icelandic government, and it has since been operated by Isavia. By the 1950s, Flugélag Íslands operated flights to Britain and Northern Europe, as well as domestic flights. Loftleiðir (Icelandic Airlines) commenced flights in 1947, initially flying domestic routes. By 1970, Reykjavík Airport was mostly operating domestic flights, with some short-haul international destinations, such as the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
In 2000, Isavia began a major renovation of the runways, which lasted two years. This was followed by a referendum in 2001, with a slight majority voting for moving the airport out of the city centre. However, the referendum was non-binding, and the airport remains in its original location.
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Akureyri Airport
The airport serves as a significant gateway to the wider region of North Iceland and plays a crucial role in the country's transportation infrastructure. It offers several daily flights to Reykjavík, along with domestic flights to destinations such as Vopnafjörður, Þórshöfn, and Grímsey Island. Additionally, it provides scheduled flights to international destinations, including Greenland, Copenhagen, London, and Tenerife.
The history of Akureyri Airport dates back to the early 1950s when construction began on top of a landfill on the delta of the Eyjafjörður river. The airport officially opened in December 1954 with a 1000-metre runway. Over the years, the airport has undergone several expansions and renovations to accommodate the increasing air traffic. A new terminal was constructed in 1961, expanded in 1970 and 1996, and renovated in 2000 to better equip the airport for international flights.
Several airlines operate at Akureyri Airport, including Icelandair, Norlandair, Circle Air, Myflug Air, and Easyjet. Icelandair offers scheduled flights between Akureyri and Reykjavík, while Norlandair serves Grímsey, Vopnafjörður, and Þórshöfn, as well as Greenland. Circle Air provides sightseeing flights in the area, and Myflug Air operates 24-hour ambulance flights and sightseeing flights. Easyjet offers flights to the UK, Voigt Travel to Holland, and Edelweiss/Kontiki Travel to Switzerland.
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Egilsstaðir Airport
Iceland has four primary airports and nine domestic airports. One of the domestic airports is Egilsstaðir Airport, located in East Iceland, in the town of Egilsstaðir, about 631 kilometers (392 miles) from Reykjavik. The airport operates on the Egilsstaðanes peninsula, on the banks of Lagarfljót lake, midway between Egilsstaðir town and Fellabær town. Austurland (East Iceland) is characterised by small villages, dramatic coastlines, narrow fjords, waterfalls, and mountains.
The airport primarily offers service to and from Reykjavik Airport, with several daily scheduled flights. The main carrier is Icelandair. While the airport is mainly used for domestic flights to Reykjavík, there have been some international routes, including to Copenhagen, and charter flights from London and Edinburgh. From May 2023, Egilsstaðir Airport was planned to have scheduled international flights again with Condor, a German holiday carrier, starting flights to Frankfurt. However, these plans were cancelled two months before the start of the route, with Condor citing weak demand.
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Ísafjörður Airport
Iceland has four primary airports and nine domestic airports. One of these domestic airports is Ísafjörður Airport, which serves the Westfjords region of Iceland. The airport is situated on the eastern shore of the Ísafjörður fjord, approximately 2 kilometres west of the town centre. It operates daily flights to and from Reykjavík Domestic Airport. Car rental services are available at the airport, and this is the best option for travelling to the town centre as there are no public buses connecting the airport to the town. From Ísafjörður Airport, you can visit many waterfalls and Látrabjarg Cliff, where you can spot puffins.
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Frequently asked questions
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is Iceland's main international airport and the country's principal international gateway. It is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwestern region of the country, approximately 50km from the capital, Reykjavík.
Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) is Iceland's main domestic airport. It is located within the capital city, Reykjavík, and operates primarily domestic flights within Iceland.
In addition to Keflavík and Reykjavík, Iceland's other main airports include Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, and Ísafjörður.
Travellers can get between the two airports by bus, taxi, or rental car.
In addition to the main airports, there are several smaller domestic airports across Iceland, including Ísafjörður (IFJ), Egilsstaðir (EGS), Husavik (HZK), Hornafjordur (HFN), Vestmannaeyjar (VEY), Myvatn (MVA), and many more.
