Reykjavík Airport
Encyclopedia
Reykjavík Airport
Reykjavík Airport (Icelandic
: Reykjavíkurflugvöllur, is the chiefly domestic airport serving Reykjavík
, Iceland
. The airport lies two kilometres from Reykjavík's city centre. Possessing rather short runways, it normally only serves flights within Iceland and to Greenland
and the Faroe Islands
, as well small international charters, ferry flights over the Atlantic, and private flights. When weather conditions are not good enough in Keflavík Airport for landings, aircraft like the Boeing 757-200 and smaller divert to Reykjavik Airport.
However, most international flights arrive at and depart from Keflavík International Airport
, 50 km out of town, which can handle practically all aircraft. Reykjavík Airport is the main hub
of Air Iceland
and Eagle Air
. Of the three runways, currently only two are active all year round, the smallest runway, 06/24, is usually only used in the winter. Takeoffs from 24 are allowed, landings on 24 and 06 are allowed, but takeoffs from 06 are forbidden because of safety and noise. Reykjavík Airport is owned and operated by the state enterprise Isavia.
, the first aeroplane in Iceland. Until 1937 there were experiments with airline operations in Vatnsmýri but with the foundation of Iceland's oldest airline
, Flugfélag Akureyrar, currently operating as Icelandair
in Akureyri
in 1938, operations began in the area and in March 1940 scheduled flights started taking off when Flugfélag Akureyrar moved its hub from Akureyri to Reykjavík (and changing its name to Flugfélag Íslands)
The current airport was built by the British
military during World War II
on the south coast of Reykjavík peninsula, then a small town. The military began construction in October 1940 at which time the airport still only had a grass surface. The Black Watch regiment constructed the first runway constructing the piste over sunken oil barrels. On July 6, 1946, the British handed the airport operation over to the Icelandic government and since then it has been operated by the Icelandic Civil Aviation Authority (now named Flugstoðir).
The city has grown all around it in the following decades and it is now essentially located in the western part of the city. This location is considered inconvenient by some, both for noise and safety reasons and because it takes up a lot of valuable space in a central location. This central location is also the reason why many wish to keep the airport where it is as it is a vital link between the national capital and the sparsely populated rest of the country. There is an ongoing debate about the future of the airport with the three options being: keeping the airport as it is, building a new one in the Reykjavík area, or moving the domestic flights to Keflavík International Airport while closing the airport in Reykjavík. The first choice would make it impossible to develop the highly valued land. The second choice would be most expensive, and the third one would hurt the domestic service, reducing access to vital institutions in the capital such as hospitals. The third option would however give better connections between other parts of the country and the rest of the world.
Renovation of the airport started in 2000 and lasted 2 years. This was followed by a referendum
in 2001, with 49.3% votes for moving the airport out of the city centre, and 48.1% votes in favour of having it remain in place until 2016, when the current urban plan expires.
After renovation, the width of runways 01/19 and 13/31 is 45 m, and the width of 06/24 is 30m, with visual approach for runways 01 and 31, while runway 19 has ILS CAT I/NBD-DME approach and runway 13 has LLZ-DME/NDB-DME approach. The lights for the runways were also updated with LIH Wedge for all runways.
Atlantic Airways and Air Iceland have a codeshare agreement for flights to Vágar
, Faroe Islands
.
When changing between domestic and international flights a 50 km bus transfer is usually needed between Reykjavík Airport and Keflavík International Airport, and at least three hours' time between flights is recommended.
and Icelandair
have a head office on the property of the airport. Air Iceland
and Isavia also have their head offices on the airport property. When Loftleiðir
was in operation, its head office was on the airport property.
Reykjavík Airport (Icelandic
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
: Reykjavíkurflugvöllur, is the chiefly domestic airport serving Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. The airport lies two kilometres from Reykjavík's city centre. Possessing rather short runways, it normally only serves flights within Iceland and to Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
, as well small international charters, ferry flights over the Atlantic, and private flights. When weather conditions are not good enough in Keflavík Airport for landings, aircraft like the Boeing 757-200 and smaller divert to Reykjavik Airport.
However, most international flights arrive at and depart from Keflavík International Airport
Keflavík International Airport
-Cargo airlines:-Ground transport:Transport between the airport and Reykjavik city is by road only. The distance is 50 km. A new fast freeway was opened 2008. The buses have a timetable adapted to the flight schedule. They go to and from the Reykjavik bus terminal, taking around 45 minutes...
, 50 km out of town, which can handle practically all aircraft. Reykjavík Airport is the main hub
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
of Air Iceland
Air Iceland
Air Iceland is a regional airline with its head office on the property of Reykjavík Airport in Reykjavík, Iceland. It operates scheduled services to domestic destinations and to Greenland. Its main bases are Reykjavík Airport and Akureyri Airport...
and Eagle Air
Eagle Air (Iceland)
Eagle Air is an Icelandic airline. It is based at Reykjavík Airport. It offers domestic flights, charter services, and adventure tours in Iceland.-Company history:...
. Of the three runways, currently only two are active all year round, the smallest runway, 06/24, is usually only used in the winter. Takeoffs from 24 are allowed, landings on 24 and 06 are allowed, but takeoffs from 06 are forbidden because of safety and noise. Reykjavík Airport is owned and operated by the state enterprise Isavia.
History
The first flight from the airport area was September 3, 1919, with the takeoff of an Avro 504Avro 504
The Avro 504 was a World War I biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the War totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in World War I, in any military capacity, during...
, the first aeroplane in Iceland. Until 1937 there were experiments with airline operations in Vatnsmýri but with the foundation of Iceland's oldest airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
, Flugfélag Akureyrar, currently operating as Icelandair
Icelandair
Icelandair ehf is the flag carrier airline of Iceland, based on the grounds of Reykjavík Airport in Reykjavík. It is part of the Icelandair Group and currently operates scheduled services to 31 cities in 13 countries on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean out of its hub at Keflavík International Airport...
in Akureyri
Akureyri
Akureyri is a town in northern Iceland. It is Iceland's second largest urban area and fourth largest municipality ....
in 1938, operations began in the area and in March 1940 scheduled flights started taking off when Flugfélag Akureyrar moved its hub from Akureyri to Reykjavík (and changing its name to Flugfélag Íslands)
The current airport was built by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on the south coast of Reykjavík peninsula, then a small town. The military began construction in October 1940 at which time the airport still only had a grass surface. The Black Watch regiment constructed the first runway constructing the piste over sunken oil barrels. On July 6, 1946, the British handed the airport operation over to the Icelandic government and since then it has been operated by the Icelandic Civil Aviation Authority (now named Flugstoðir).
The city has grown all around it in the following decades and it is now essentially located in the western part of the city. This location is considered inconvenient by some, both for noise and safety reasons and because it takes up a lot of valuable space in a central location. This central location is also the reason why many wish to keep the airport where it is as it is a vital link between the national capital and the sparsely populated rest of the country. There is an ongoing debate about the future of the airport with the three options being: keeping the airport as it is, building a new one in the Reykjavík area, or moving the domestic flights to Keflavík International Airport while closing the airport in Reykjavík. The first choice would make it impossible to develop the highly valued land. The second choice would be most expensive, and the third one would hurt the domestic service, reducing access to vital institutions in the capital such as hospitals. The third option would however give better connections between other parts of the country and the rest of the world.
Renovation of the airport started in 2000 and lasted 2 years. This was followed by a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
in 2001, with 49.3% votes for moving the airport out of the city centre, and 48.1% votes in favour of having it remain in place until 2016, when the current urban plan expires.
After renovation, the width of runways 01/19 and 13/31 is 45 m, and the width of 06/24 is 30m, with visual approach for runways 01 and 31, while runway 19 has ILS CAT I/NBD-DME approach and runway 13 has LLZ-DME/NDB-DME approach. The lights for the runways were also updated with LIH Wedge for all runways.
Terminals and destinations
There are two terminals at Reykjavík Airport. The main terminal handles both international and domestic traffic for Air Iceland; a smaller terminal serves domestic and international business flights for Eagle Air.Atlantic Airways and Air Iceland have a codeshare agreement for flights to Vágar
Vágar Airport
Vágar Airport is the only airport in the Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, and is located east of Sørvágur. Due to the Faroe Islands' rather anomalous status, the airport is not fully subject to the rules of the European Union...
, Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
.
When changing between domestic and international flights a 50 km bus transfer is usually needed between Reykjavík Airport and Keflavík International Airport, and at least three hours' time between flights is recommended.
Other facilities
Icelandair GroupIcelandair Group
Icelandair Group hf is an Icelandic travel industry corporation, the owner of the airline Icelandair and numerous other travel industry companies...
and Icelandair
Icelandair
Icelandair ehf is the flag carrier airline of Iceland, based on the grounds of Reykjavík Airport in Reykjavík. It is part of the Icelandair Group and currently operates scheduled services to 31 cities in 13 countries on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean out of its hub at Keflavík International Airport...
have a head office on the property of the airport. Air Iceland
Air Iceland
Air Iceland is a regional airline with its head office on the property of Reykjavík Airport in Reykjavík, Iceland. It operates scheduled services to domestic destinations and to Greenland. Its main bases are Reykjavík Airport and Akureyri Airport...
and Isavia also have their head offices on the airport property. When Loftleiðir
Loftleiðir
Loftleiðir HF, internationally known as Icelandic Airlines or Loftleiðir Icelandic, was a private Icelandic airline headquartered on the grounds of Reykjavík Airport in Reykjavík, which operated mostly trans-atlantic flights linking Europe and America, pioneering the low-cost flight business...
was in operation, its head office was on the airport property.
Accidents and incidents
On 27 December 1980, Douglas C-47B N54605 of Visionair International was damaged beyond repair in a storm at Reykjavik Airport.External links
- Reykjavík Airport at the Icelandic Civil Aviation AdministrationIcelandic Civil Aviation AdministrationThe Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration is the aviation authority of Iceland. The authority has its headquarters in Reykjavik.-External links:* *...
- Reykjavík Airport at the Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration
- Current aviation weather for Reykjavík