Image Credit: ISAVIA
Reykjavik Keflavík International Airport (IATA code: KEF), also known as Reykjavík–Keflavík Airport, is the largest airport in Iceland. Most international journeys to or from Iceland pass through this airport; in fact, the airport is almost exclusively used for international flights. Most domestic flights use the smaller Reykjavík Airport, which is seperate to KEF and located 3 km (1.9 mi) from Reykjavík's city centre.
29 airlines fly to/from KEF, the main carrier being Icelandair, which uses the airport as its main hub. WOW Air was the second largest Icelandic carrier and provided numerous budget flights to/from Keflavík, until it ceased operations on 28 March 2019.
Expansion
Keflavik International Airport was built by the U.S. military during World War II. A new commercial terminal was developed in 1987, but to meet demand from a growing number of customers, the terminal building is being expanded. Expansion should be completed by 2022.
Interesting Fact: The main terminal building is named after Leif Erikson, the first European to arrive in North America.
Keflavík International Airport is located 50km southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital city, and in the lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland’s south-westernmost region.
Food and drink: Food options are available both Landside and Airside, and operate according to flight schedules. The 10/11 Convenience Shop, located Landside Arrivals/Departures, is a good option for snacks.
Duty Free Shopping: As well as Duty Free Iceland, there are a limited number of additional duty free shops located throughout the airport: 66°North, Airport Fashion, Blue Lagoon, Elko, Optical Studio, Penninn Eymundsson, Pure Food Hall, and the Rammagerdin Iceland Gift Store.
Wi-Fi: Complimentary Wi-Fi is available to all passengers within the terminal buildings.
Self-check-in: In the check-in hall, there are 50 self-check-in kiosks, which are open 24 hours a day. Passengers will only be able to check-in at least two and a half hours before departure.
Currency, tax refunds and banking: Arion Bank provides currency exchange and service points in the arrival and departure hall. It also has 14 cash machines (ATMs) in the terminal buildings.
Services for children: There is a children's play area by C gates in the South Building. Children can also pick up a free colouring book and crayons - just head to the information desk! There are also family washrooms on the 2nd level of the airport, and free strollers are available throughout the terminal.
Charging points: There are over 100 charging stations are available, located throughout the airport terminals.
The main airport waiting area. Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons
Icelandair Saga Lounge
Open daily from 5:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The lounge is accessible to Icelandair Saga Class and Economy Comfort flyers, Saga Gold and Silver members. Certain American Express, Mastercard, Alaska Airlines and Lufthansa Elite/Gold Status flyers are also permitted. The lounge features padded loungers, complimentary snack/drinks and showers.
Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons
The airport has two runways currently in use.
The airport terminal is divided into two buildings: the main terminal building and a much smaller terminal building in the south. The smaller south terminal is used predominately used by Eagle Air.
The check-in area is located on Level 1, inside the terminal’s departure hall.
Icelandair
The largest carrier operating out of Keflavik is Icelandair, which uses the airport as a hub and flies to the following destinations:
Airline | Destinations |
---|---|
Icelandair Regular | Amsterdam, Bergen, Berlin–Tegel, Boston, Brussels, Chicago–O'Hare, Copenhagen, Denver, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Helsinki, London–Gatwick, London–Heathrow, Manchester, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Munich, New York–JFK, Newark, Orlando, Oslo–Gardermoen, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Stockholm–Arlanda, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver, Washington–Dulles, Zürich |
Icelandair Seasonal | Anchorage, Billund, Edmonton, Geneva, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Kansas City, Madrid, Milan–Malpensa, Montréal–Trudeau, Philadelphia, Portland (OR) |
Other airlines that fly to KEF
The following airlines operate regular scheduled flights to and from Keflavík, many of which are seasonal:
Airline | Destinations |
---|---|
airBaltic | Riga |
Air Canada Rouge | Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson |
Air Greenland | Seasonal: Ilulissat, Kangerlussuaq, Nuuk |
Air Iceland Connect | Seasonal: Akureyri, Kangerlussuaq, Kulusuk |
American Airlines | Seasonal: Dallas/Fort Worth |
Atlantic Airways | Seasonal: Vágar |
Austrian Airlines | Seasonal: Vienna |
British Airways | London–Heathrow |
Czech Airlines | Seasonal: Prague |
Delta Air Lines | Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK |
easyJet | Edinburgh, London–Gatwick, London–Luton, Manchester Seasonal: Belfast–International, Bristol, London–Stansted |
easyJet Switzerland | Seasonal: Basel/Mulhouse, Geneva |
Edelweiss Air | Zürich |
Eurowings | Seasonal: Cologne/Bonn, Hamburg |
Finnair | Helsinki |
Iberia Express | Madrid |
Jet2.com | Seasonal: Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle |
Lufthansa | Frankfurt Seasonal: Munich |
Neos | Seasonal: Alicante, Milan–Malpensa |
Norwegian Air Shuttle | Alicante, Barcelona, Gran Canaria (from 30 October 2019), Madrid, Oslo–Gardermoen, Tenerife–South (from 27 October 2019) Seasonal: Bergen |
S7 Airlines | Seasonal: Moscow–Domodedovo |
Scandinavian Airlines | Copenhagen, Oslo–Gardermoen Seasonal: Stockholm–Arlanda |
Transavia | Amsterdam |
Transavia France | Paris–Orly |
TUI Airways | Seasonal: Bristol, London–Gatwick, Manchester |
United Airlines | Seasonal: Newark |
Vueling | Seasonal: Barcelona |
Wizz Air | Budapest, Gdańsk, Katowice, Kraków (from 16 September 2019), London–Luton, Riga, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw–Chopin, Wrocław |
S7 Airlines | Seasonal: Moscow–Domodedovo |
S7 Airlines | Seasonal: Moscow–Domodedovo |
It is predominately international flights that operate from KEF. The most popular routes are:
Rank | Destination | Passengers | Airlines |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Copenhagen | 582,199 | Icelandair, 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 |
5 | London–Heathrow | 378,029 | British Airways, Icelandair |
Transport between the KEF and downtown Reykjavik is a 50 kilometres (31 mi) journey along Route 41. The following options are available:
By Bus
The Flybus can be picked up just outside the main terminal building and leaves every 40 mins (approx) - exact times can be found on the terminal screens inside the terminal, where there is also a Flybus information desk. The company also provides connections from your hotel back to the airport, which can be arranged in your hotel.
The Airport Direct service provides transfers to the city centre and operates 24 hours a day. A private mini-van door-to-door service is also available to transfer up to 8 people.
By Car Rental
There are a number of car-hire companies located on-site: Avis, Budget, Hertz and Europcar (Bilaleiga Akureyrar).
By Taxi
Taxis can be picked up outside the main terminal building.