History.
Keflavik Airport is located on the Reykjanes peninsula, 50 km south-west from the capital Reykjavik. It was built during WW II for military purposes and inaugurated on 23 March 1943. As the world recovered after the war, Keflavik Airport gained an important function for technical stops for piston aircraft, as well as being an alternative airport for flights over the North-Atlantic between Europe and America. As technology advanced, Keflavik Airport became less important as aircraft had much longer ranges and did not need to make refuelling stops. The aircraft of to-day have a range up to 15.000 km.

In the early sixties, international flights moved from Reykjavik Airport to Keflavik Airport. By that time the Icelandic companies had gained a foothold in flying between Iceland and Continental Europe and the UK (Icelandair) and between Europe and North-America (Loftleidir Icelandic). These companies later merged. This proved to be the beginning of a new chapter in the operation of Keflavik Airport and business has increased considerably over the years. The passengers through Keflavik Airport in the year of 2000 were 1.455.705 (1999: 1.315.209, 1998: 1.226.3959) total freight was 38.367 metric tonnes (1999: 30.983, 1998: 27.534) and mail was 1.974 metric tonnes (1999: 1.819, 1998: 1.941).

Leifur Eiriksson Air Terminal
Keflavik Airport is open 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. During the peak season there are about 1.000 civil aviation related jobs on the airport.
The Leifur Eiriksson Air Terminal was inaugurated on 14 April 1987 and enlarged in 2001 and is now approximately 40.000 m2, built to comply with the requirements of the Schengen Convention. It is designed to serve 2.400.000 passenger a year. There are 14 gates and 11 airbridges. Check-in desks number 25. There is parking for 365 vehicles in the short terms car parks and 1000 vehicles in the long terms car parks. The terminal contains a wide selection of duty free shops.

Handling Agents.
There are three major handling agents at Keflavik Airport. They offer their services 24 hours a day and are located next to the passenger terminal ramp. They can handle all types of aircraft from general aviation up to jumbo jets, both for cargo and passenger needs. They operate all airport equipment needed for ramp handling services, transit stops, technical stops, de-icing, flight dispatch services, passenger check in services, dedicated cargo handling, cargo terminal services, liaison with fuel suppliers etc. They operate modern and well maintained equipment and their staff is well trained and experienced
The cargo terminal facilities are new and modern, capable of providing the perfect environment for freight and supplies, be it large cargo, dangerous goods, live animals or perishable goods. The facilities include a large cold store that can hold a full aircraft load of both loose freight as well as containers and pallets. Office facilities are available to customers, both short and long term.

Icelandair Technical Department.
Icelandair Technical Department provides aircraft and aircraft component maintenance and technical services. They have a permanent staff of about 160 aircraft engineers who are fully trained and licensed to ICAO type II standard. The maintenance hangar is 12.374m2. It is new and offers the highest quality standards and is capable of handling and servicing all types of aircraft.

The Airport
The airport has two runways, 02/20 3054x60 m. and 11/29 3065x60 m.
All runways have ILS approaches, two (11 and 20) are CAT II.

All the latest approach and lighting equipment is available such as LLZ, GP, VOR, DME, NDB, Markers, PAPI, HIALS, SFL, TDZ, etc.

For further information please visit our website at: www.keflavikairport.com or send us an e-mail at bikf@caa.is