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Keflavík International Airport

Coordinates: 63°59′06″N 22°36′20″W / 63.98500°N 22.60556°W / 63.98500; -22.60556
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This article is about the international airport. For Reykjavík's domestic airport, see Reykjavík Airport.

Keflavík Airport

Keflavíkurflugvöllur
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorIsavia ohf.
ServesGreater Reykjavík Area
LocationSuðurnesjabær, Iceland
Opened23 March 1943; 81 years ago (1943-03-23)
Hub for
Elevation AMSL52 m / 171 ft
Coordinates63°59′06″N 22°36′20″W / 63.98500°N 22.60556°W / 63.98500; -22.60556
Websiteisavia.is
Map
KEF/BIKF is located in Iceland
KEF/BIKF
KEF/BIKF
Location of airport in Iceland
KEF/BIKF is located in Arctic
KEF/BIKF
KEF/BIKF
KEF/BIKF (Arctic)
KEF/BIKF is located in Europe
KEF/BIKF
KEF/BIKF
KEF/BIKF (Europe)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
01/19 3,054 10,020 Asphalt
10/28 3,065 10,056 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Total passengers7,776,147
Aircraft movements76.575
Sources:[1] AIP Iceland at ICAA[2]
Statistics: Isavia Limited[3][4]

Keflavík Airport (Icelandic: Keflavíkurflugvöllur [ˈcʰɛplaˌviːkʏrˌflʏɣˌvœtlʏr̥]) (IATA: KEF, ICAO: BIKF), also known as Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport, is the largest airport in Iceland and the country's main hub for international transportation. The airport located approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the town of Keflavík, Reykjanesbær.[2] and 50 km (30 mi) southwest of Reykjavík. The airport has two runways each measuring approx. 3,050 m (10,010 ft).[5] Most international journeys to or from Iceland pass through this airport.

The main carrier at Keflavík is Icelandair, which has the airport as its main hub. The airport is also a hub for the airline Play. The airport is only used for international flights; all domestic flights use the much smaller Reykjavík Airport, which lies three kilometres (two miles) from Reykjavík's city centre. Keflavík Airport is operated by Isavia, a government enterprise.

History

[edit]
Aerial view of the main buildings
Terminal exterior
Terminal interior

Early years

[edit]

Originally, the airport was 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 south-east opened in 1942 despite being partly incomplete. It was named after a young pilot who died in Iceland. Meeks Field to the north-west opened on 23 March 1943, where the airport is still located today. It was named after another young pilot, George Meeks, who died on the Reykjavík airfield. 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 Keflavik, named after the nearby town of Keflavík.[6][7][8]

In 1949, a passenger terminal was built by the Lockheed Overseas Aircraft Service. The terminal serviced civilian passenger aviation at the airport.[6] However, the passenger terminal was located within the military air base and found itself in the middle of a secure military zone. Travellers therefore had to pass through military checkpoints to reach their flights.[9]

In 1951, the U.S. military returned to the airport under a defence agreement between Iceland and the U.S. signed on 5 May 1951.[10]

Development since the 1960s

[edit]

The presence of foreign military forces in Iceland under the NATO-sponsored Iceland–U.S. Defense Agreement of 1951 was controversial in Iceland, which had no military forces other than the Icelandic Coast Guard.[11] During the 1960s and 1970s, rallies were held to protest the U.S. military presence in Iceland (and in particular at Keflavík), and every year protesters walked the 50-kilometre (30 mi) road from Reykjavík to Keflavík and chanted "Ísland úr NATO, herinn burt" (literally: Iceland out of NATO, the military away). The protests were not effective.[12]

The situation of having to pass through a U.S. military base in order to access the passenger terminal remained unchanged, but was not ideal. Subsequently, in April 1987 the Icelandic government finished construction of a relocated civilian terminal which was located on the north side of the airport. The new terminal had separate access from the military area and was accessible without passing through the military area. The new terminal was named after Leif Erikson who was the first European to arrive in North America[13] (Flugstöð Leifs Eiríkssonar [is], "Leif Erikson Air Terminal").[14]

The two 3,000-metre-long (10,000 ft) and 60-metre-wide (200 ft) runways were large enough to support NASA's Space Shuttle as well as the Antonov An-225. On 29 June 1999, Concorde G-BOAA flew from Heathrow Airport to Reykjavík (Keflavik airport). The Concorde had been there earlier.[15] The airport is also an important emergency landing runway for large aircraft in transatlantic operation in the ETOPS system, which requires aircraft to always have less than a certain flight time[clarification needed] to a suitable landing site.[16]

Since 2000

[edit]

The terminal was extended with the opening of the South Building in 2001, to comply with the requirements of the Schengen Agreement. The North Building was enlarged and finished in 2007.[17] The United States military base closed down and was handed over to the Icelandic Government in 2006.[18]

As of 2013, plans were proposed to add a third runway.[19]

The airport was used as a hub by defunct airlines Iceland Express and WOW air until it ceased operations on 28 March 2019.[20]

In 2016, the south terminal was expanded adding seven gates.[21] The ramp area to the east of the airport was expanded in 2018, adding 13 remote stands.[22] A new 1.2 km taxiway was constructed in 2023 by Isavia, which allows better aircraft traffic management at the airport.[23] A major expansion of the airport began in 2022, with an eastern wing being constructed east of the main terminal. The first phase involved an opening an expanded arrivals hall in 2023, expanding the number of baggage carousels and the arrival retail area. As of 2024, it is projected that the rest of the eastern wing will be completed in 2025, adding 30% new terminal area compared to the current terminal, including four new jet-bridge gates, two new remote-stand bus gates and new spaces for retail units.[24] As of 2024, a 1,900 square metre expansion of the south terminal is also under construction, on its east side.[25]

Terminal

[edit]

The airport has a single terminal, originally called Leifsstöð. (named after Leif Erikson).[26] A total of 13 jet-bridge gates and 17 remote stands are available.[27] The terminal is split into A, C and D gates. A gates are located closest to the main lounge along the main hallway. C-gates are loctated past the main hallway on the upper level of the south building. D-gates are non-Schengen gates on the lower level of the south building.[28] Airside, past airport security, one emerges into the Schengen side of the terminal. To access flights to non-Schengen countries (including the UK and United States), one must pass through passport control.[29] [30]

Airlines and destinations

[edit]

Passenger

[edit]

Although the population of Iceland is only about 400,000, there are scheduled flights to and from numerous locations across North America and Europe. The largest carrier operating out of Keflavik is Icelandair. The airline Play also uses Keflavik as a hub and is the second largest Icelandic carrier in 2024.[3] The airport only handles international flights; domestic flights are operated from Reykjavík's domestic airport.

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter services to and from Keflavík:[31]

AirlinesDestinations
Air Canada Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson
Air Greenland Nuuk
Seasonal: Billund (begins 18 March 2025)[32]
airBaltic Riga, Tallinn (begins 14 May 2025)[33]
Atlantic Airways Vágar[34]
Austrian Airlines Seasonal: Vienna
British Airways London–Heathrow[35]
Delta Air Lines Seasonal: Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK
Discover Airlines Seasonal: Munich (begins 3 April 2025)[36]
easyJet Edinburgh, London–Luton, Manchester,[37] Milan–Malpensa, Paris–Orly[38]
Seasonal: Birmingham (begins 3 December 2024),[39] Bristol, London–Gatwick
Edelweiss Air Zürich
Eurowings Seasonal: Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart[40]
Finnair Helsinki[41]
Iberia Express Seasonal: Madrid[42]
Icelandair[43] Alicante, Amsterdam, Baltimore, Barcelona, Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Chicago–O'Hare, Copenhagen, Denver, Dublin, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Helsinki, Kulusuk, Lisbon,[44] London–Gatwick, London–Heathrow, Manchester, Munich, Newark, New York–JFK, Nuuk, Orlando, Oslo, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Prague, Raleigh/Durham, Rome–Fiumicino, Seattle/Tacoma, Stockholm–Arlanda, Tenerife–South, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver, Washington–Dulles, Zürich
Seasonal: Akureyri,1 Bergen, Billund, Detroit, Geneva, Gothenburg (resumes 19 June 2025),[45] Gran Canaria, Halifax, Hamburg, Ilulissat, Innsbruck, Madrid, Milan–Malpensa, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Narsarsuaq, Nashville (begins 16 May 2025),[46] Nice, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR), Salzburg, Vágar, Verona
Jet2.com Seasonal: Belfast–International, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Liverpool (begins 30 November 2025),[47] London–Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne
Lufthansa Frankfurt
Seasonal: Munich
Neos Seasonal: Alicante, Málaga, Tenerife–South, Verona
Norwegian Air Shuttle[48] Seasonal: Oslo
Play Alicante, Amsterdam, Baltimore, Barcelona, Berlin, Boston, Copenhagen, Dublin, Hamilton (ON), Lisbon, London–Stansted, Madrid, Málaga, Newburgh, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Tenerife–South, Washington–Dulles
Seasonal: Aalborg (resumes 7 June 2025),[49] Antalya (begins 15 April 2025),[50] Athens, Billund, Bologna, Brussels, Cardiff, Düsseldorf, Faro (begins 12 April 2025),[51] Fuerteventura, Funchal,[52] Geneva, Gothenburg, Gran Canaria, Hamburg, Liverpool, Marrakesh,[52] Palma de Mallorca, Porto, Prague, Pula (begins 31 May 2025),[53] Salzburg, Split,[54] Stockholm–Arlanda, Valencia (begins 24 May 2025),[55] Verona, Vilnius,[56] Warsaw–Chopin
Scandinavian Airlines Copenhagen, Oslo
Transavia Amsterdam, Paris–Orly
TUI Airways Seasonal: Bristol, London–Gatwick, Manchester
United Airlines Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Newark[57]
Vueling Barcelona
WestJet Seasonal: Calgary[58]
Wizz Air Budapest, Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków, Milan–Malpensa, Rome–Fiumicino, Vienna, Warsaw–Chopin

^1 Icelandair's service between Akureyri and Keflavík is available only to connecting passengers flying with the airline internationally.[59]

Cargo

[edit]
AirlinesDestinations
Icelandair Cargo[60] Boston,[61] Liège, Los Angeles[62][63]

Statistics

[edit]
Airport Map

Passenger numbers

[edit]
Year Passengers[64][65] Change
2004 1,883,725
2005 2,101,679 +11.6%
2006 2,272,917 +8.1%
2007 2,429,144 +6.9%
2008 2,193,434 -9.7%
2009 1,832,944 -16.4%
2010 2,065,188 +12.7%
2011 2,474,806 +19.8%
2012 2,764,026 +11.7%
2013 3,209,848 +16.1%
2014 3,867,425 +20.5%
2015 4,855,505 +25.5%
2016 6,821,358 +40.4%
2017 8,755,352 +28.3%
2018 9,804,388 +12.0%
2019 7,247,820 -26.08%
2020 1,373,971 -81.04%
2021 2,171,996 +58.1%
2022 6,126,421 +182.01%
2023 7,776,147 +26.9%

Busiest destinations

[edit]
Busiest routes to/from Keflavík (2018)[66][needs update]
Rank Airport Passengers Operator(s)
1 Copenhagen 582,199 Icelandair, Play, SAS
2 London–Gatwick 467,032 easyJet, Icelandair, Norwegian, TUI Airways
3 Amsterdam 449,590 Icelandair, Transavia
4 Paris–Charles de Gaulle 443,312 Icelandair, Play
5 London–Heathrow 378,029 British Airways, Icelandair
6 Frankfurt 355,520 Icelandair, Lufthansa
7 Boston 330,792 Icelandair
8 Newark 327,046 Icelandair, United
9 New York–JFK 323,781 Delta, Icelandair
10 Oslo 313,713 Icelandair, Norwegian, SAS

Ground transport

[edit]
A Strætó bs bus serving the airport

Road

[edit]

The airport located approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the town of Keflavík, Reykjanesbær, and 50 km (30 mi) southwest of Reykjavík. The airport is linked to downtown Reykjavik via a 50-kilometre (30 mi) journey on the Route 41 dual carriageway. There is a separated pedestrian and bike path form Keflavík Airport to the town of Keflavík, but not to Reykjavík.[2] Long-term and short-term parking is available at the airport.[67] Taxis are available outside the terminal. Rental cars are available from various companies.[68]

Bus

[edit]

Public buses are operated by Strætó bs on route 55 to Mjódd bus station (located in Reykjavík's suburbs); the public bus stop is not located outside the airport terminal itself, but is located a few hundred metres away, near the car rental area.[69]

Coach

[edit]

Private companies Flybus, Airport Express and others operate express services to Reykjavík, including stops and transfers to hotels.[70]

Accidents and incidents

[edit]
  • On 21 July 2013, a Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliner, prototype aircraft 97005, made a belly landing during a test flight. The cause was a crew mistake due to fatigue. They operated the plane manually in order to simulate failures.[71][72]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Vísir – Enn eitt metið slegið í fjölda farþega sem fara um Keflavíkurflugvöll". Visir.is. 14 November 2013. Archived from the original on 16 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "BIKF – Keflavík" (PDF). Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Aviation Fact Profile 2022" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Cargo Statistics 2012". Kefairport.is. Isavia Limited. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  5. ^ "eAIP ICELAND". eaip.isavia.is. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Sjötíu ár frá opnun Keflavíkurflugvallar". www.vf.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Keflavíkurflugvöllur – Meeks – Ferlir" (in Icelandic). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Vopnageymslur varnarliðsins endurnýjaðar". www.mbl.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  9. ^ Sullivan, Paul (1 August 2011). Waking Up in Iceland. Bobcat Books. p. 164. ISBN 978-0-85712-446-3.
  10. ^ "U.S. Government Debated Secret Nuclear Deployments in Iceland". National Security Archive. George Washington University. 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  11. ^ Kochis, Daniel; Slattery, Brian (21 June 2016). "Iceland: Outsized Importance for Transatlantic Security". The Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  12. ^ Háskólabókasafn, Landsbókasafn Íslands-. "Tímarit.is". timarit.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  13. ^ Read description and sources to his life and discovery in Leif Erikson
  14. ^ Háskólabókasafn, Landsbókasafn Íslands-. "Tímarit.is". timarit.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Concorde to Iceland – The Ultimate Day Trip Trailer – Plato Video". YouTube. 21 April 2012. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  16. ^ "Annex 6 – Operation of Aircraft" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Airport map". KEF Airport. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  18. ^ NATO. "Iceland and NATO - 1949". NATO. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Hugmyndir um nýja flugbraut á Keflavíkurflugvelli" (in Icelandic). visir. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  20. ^ "End of Operation of WOW AIR". Icelandic Transport Authority. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019. WOW AIR has ceased operation. All WOW AIR flights have been cancelled.
  21. ^ "Metfjöldi farþega á Keflavíkurflugvelli í fyrra – Mikil aukning fjórða árið í röð". Isavia.is. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  22. ^ Jónsson, Stefán Ó (11 August 2018). "Rúmlega 20 milljarðar á ári í stækkun Keflavíkurflugvallar - Vísir". visir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  23. ^ Ómarsdóttir, Alma; Karlsson, Ari Páll (21 July 2023). "Ný fjögurra milljarða króna akbraut sú fyrsta sem Íslendingar leggja sjálfir - RÚV.is". RÚV. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Nýr komusalur á Keflvíkurflugvelli | Framkvæmdir". KEF+ (in Icelandic). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Aukið pláss í Suðurbyggingu Keflavíkurflugvallar gerir ferðalagið ánægjulegra". KEF+ (in Icelandic). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  26. ^ Saga og menning Archived 22 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Keflavik Airport website.
  27. ^ "eAIS Package for Iceland published on 05 OKT 2024". eaip.isavia.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Airport map". KEF Airport. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  29. ^ "Merkingum á brottfararhliðum á Keflavíkurflugvelli breytt". www.mbl.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  30. ^ "Shopping". KEF Airport. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  31. ^ kefairport.is – Timetables retrieved 18 September 2022
  32. ^ "Air Greenland and Icelandair sign a partnership agreement". arctictoday.com/. 22 October 2024.
  33. ^ "airBaltic launches 16 new routes across the Baltic States, expands connectivity". Aviation24.be. 4 September 2024.
  34. ^ "Atlantic Airways announces scheduled flights to 10 destinations for 2022". Aviation24.be. Aviation24.be. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  35. ^ "British Airways NW24 Heathrow – Europe Frequency Changes – 27OCT24". Aeroroutes. Aeroroutes. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Discover Airlines NS25 Europe Network Additions Summary – 18AUG24". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  37. ^ "easyJet Adds Manchester-based A321neo Service in NW24". Aeroroutes.
  38. ^ "News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry | CAPA".
  39. ^ "EasyJet adds 33 routes from UK to winter 2024-25 schedule".
  40. ^ Liu, Jim (30 November 2023). "Eurowings NS24 Network Additions – 30NOV23". AeroRoutes.
  41. ^ "Finnair NS24 European Frequency Increases – 18JUN23". Aeroroutes.
  42. ^ "LATAM Expands Iberia European Codeshare in 3Q22". Aeroroutes.
  43. ^ "Our Flight Schedule". Icelandair.
  44. ^ "Icelandair hefur flug til Lissabon" (Press release). Viðskiptablaðið. 25 June 2024.
  45. ^ "Cheap Flight Tickets to Gothenburg (GOT)".
  46. ^ "Icelandair starting flights from BNA Airport in 2025". Fox17. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  47. ^ "Jet2 announces 'once in a lifetime trips' from Liverpool John Lennon Airport". liverpoolecho.co.uk. 20 June 2024.
  48. ^ "Route map". norwegian.com.
  49. ^ "PLAY atter tilbage i Aalborg Lufthavn". 21 August 2024.
  50. ^ "Play Airlines Connects Antalya to Iceland". Play (Press release). 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  51. ^ "PLAY Airlines launches flight between Faro and Iceland, with one foot in North America". 28 August 2024.
  52. ^ a b "PLAY Airlines expands service with flights from Madeira and from Marrakech to Iceland". 5 March 2024.
  53. ^ "Play arrives in Pula!".
  54. ^ "Iceland and Croatia connected for the first time with a regular route". AvioRadar. 17 January 2024.
  55. ^ "PLAY Adds Reykjavik – Valencia Service in NS25". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  56. ^ "PLAY Schedules Regular Vilnius Service From late-May 2024". AeroRoutes. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  57. ^ Schlappig, Ben (26 October 2023). "United Airlines' Transatlantic Expansion For 2024". One Mile At A Time.
  58. ^ Liu, Jim (15 November 2023). "WestJet NS24 Long-Haul Network Expansion". AeroRoutes.
  59. ^ Liu, Jim (2 June 2023). "Icelandair Adds Reykjavik Keflavik - Akureyri Service in 4Q23". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  60. ^ icelandaircargo.com - Flight schedule retrieved 18 September 2022
  61. ^ "Flight Schedule".
  62. ^ "Icelandair's Second 767 Freighter to Allow U.S. West Coast Services | Aviation Week Network".
  63. ^ "Icelandair expands at Liege with new 767-300BCF".
  64. ^ "Passenger statisticsm". kefairport.is. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  65. ^ "2022".
  66. ^ "Database – Eurostat". ec.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  67. ^ "KEF Airport". www.kefairport.com. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  68. ^ "Car Rental/Car Hire at Keflavík International Airport, Iceland - Kefairport.com". kefairport.is. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  69. ^ "Bus to/from KEF-Airport". Strætó. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  70. ^ "Airport Shuttle from Keflavík Airport, Iceland - Keflavík International Airport - Kefairport.com". kefairport.is. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  71. ^ "Accident: Sukhoi SU95 at Keflavik on Jul 21st 2013, belly landing". Avherald.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  72. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  73. ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 195078". Aviation Safety Network. 28 April 2017. Archived from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  74. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 757-256 (WL) TF-FIA Keflavík International Airport (KEF)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Keflavík International Airport.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Keflavík International Airport.
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