With roughly 10 million passengers expected to pass through Iceland’s Keflavik Airport this year — a more than fivefold increase over the past nine years — the facility is undertaking a major expansion.
Passenger traffic grew 28 percent last year to 8.76 million, and forecasts put this year’s total at about 10 million. To meet demand, the airport plans to invest around $1 billion in upgrades and capacity improvements over the next seven to eight years. Funding will support projects such as new gates, expanded terminal space, improved passenger services and additional flight routes.
Icelandic carriers, including Icelandair and WOW air, have added routes to several mid-sized North American cities, and major international airlines such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada have introduced or are planning new services. Those additions have helped transform Keflavik into both a destination for visitors to Iceland and a practical hub for travelers connecting between Europe and North America.
Since opening in 1987, the airport has undergone multiple expansions to keep pace with growing demand. The current plan focuses on increasing capacity, improving passenger flow, and modernizing facilities to support continued growth while enhancing the travel experience for both transfer passengers and those beginning or ending their journeys in Iceland.