Reykjavík Airport, known in Icelandic as Reykjavíkurflugvöllur, serves as the primary domestic airport for Iceland's capital city. Situated approximately two kilometers from the city center, it plays a crucial role in connecting various parts of Iceland and facilitating limited flights to Greenland. Owned and operated by the state enterprise Isavia, the airport is a vital piece of infrastructure, particularly for internal travel and specialized aviation
services. Its history traces back to the early 20th century, evolving from a marshy, undeveloped area into a key aviation facility.
Early Aviation and Foundation
The area where Reykjavík Airport stands today, Vatnsmýri, was largely uninhabited in the early 20th century. Its flat terrain made it an ideal landing site for aircraft near Reykjavík, a city that was then only minimally developed. The marshy conditions of Vatnsmýri, however, rendered it mostly unsuitable for conventional construction, inadvertently preserving it for aviation use. The first recorded flight from this location occurred on September 3, 1919, marking a significant moment in Icelandic aviation history with the takeoff of an Avro 504, the first airplane to operate in Iceland.
Experiments with airline operations continued in Vatnsmýri until 1937. During the 1930s, seaplane flights were a more common form of air travel in Reykjavík, operating from areas like Skerjafjörður and Vatnagarðar, near Vatnsmýri. A pivotal moment arrived in March 1940 when Flugfélag Akureyrar, now known as Icelandair, relocated its hub to Reykjavík. This move shifted their operations to scheduled fixed-wing flights from the Vatnsmýri area, and the company subsequently changed its name to Flugfélag Íslands. Although formal plans for an airport in Vatnsmýri existed in the 1930s, they did not materialize until the Second World War. Notably, the Graf Zeppelin airship also visited Reykjavík Airport in 1930 and 1931, highlighting the area's early importance in air travel.
Operational Role and Distinctions
Today, Reykjavík Airport functions as the domestic hub for Icelandair flights and features two runways. Due to its shorter runways compared to the larger Keflavík International Airport, which is located 50 kilometers outside the city, Reykjavík Airport primarily handles domestic flights within Iceland and a limited number of flights to Greenland. Beyond scheduled passenger services, the airport also supports medivac operations, private aviation, and general aviation activities, underscoring its diverse utility.
To differentiate it from Keflavík International Airport, Reykjavík Airport is sometimes unofficially referred to in English as Reykjavik City Airport or Reykjavik Domestic Airport, even by the airport administration itself. This distinction helps clarify its role as the city's internal air travel gateway. Furthermore, the airport can serve as an alternate landing site for flights bound for Keflavík in instances of adverse weather conditions, demonstrating its strategic importance in the broader Icelandic aviation network. Its close proximity to the city center makes it a convenient option for travelers within Iceland, solidifying its status as a crucial component of the nation's transportation system.
