Keflavik International Airport |
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Wednesday, 01 April 2009 |
Keflavik International Airport
If most people were asked there opinions on traveling to Iceland, several colorful responses would likely emerge from the lips of those under the false perceptions of what this country has to offer. Many would likely state that the climate is too cold and that the idea of traveling to such a remote place where snow shoes and sled dogs are the only viable means of transportation is not all that appealing.
Many are surprised when they learn the truth about this beautiful Nordic country and what is has to offer. Those that are slightly more informed might think that if flying to Iceland one would land in the Country’s capital Reykjavik. While it is true that Reykjavik does house an airport, the largest air travel hub is actually the Keflavik International Airport, located approximately 30 miles from the city of Reykjavik.
Iceland itself is a rather small country boasting only about 300,000 inhabitants nationwide. Keflavik International Airport however seems a rather large structure for such a small place. It has two runways and occupies a territory equal to about 25 kilometers squared. When one considers that nearly every international flight travelling in, out or passing through Iceland stops at this airport, it makes it somewhat of an anomaly.
It is no surprise that the main carriers that call Keflavik home are Iceland air and Iceland Express. Never the less the airport welcomes several others of the world’s most well known commercial carriers such and Lufthansa and the Scandinavian Airlines partners. UPS is the largest cargo carrier that services Keflavik.
The airport itself has an interesting history. It was the US government that was responsible for the building of the original structure during the Second World War. They needed an airport in the North Atlantic that was capable of operating heavy bombers and hosting landing strips. The location of 30 miles outside Iceland’s capital was chosen and the funds soon allocated. The airport was only used for military means until the end of the Second World War. Afterwards it served as mainly a refilling stop for long haul flights. The US forces maintain their influence at Keflavik until September of 2006 when control was handed over to Iceland’s government.
In 1987 the Leifur Eiriksson terminal was opened. This separated the airports civilian traffic from that of the military. Named for the explorer Leif Eriksson the terminal boasts an array of duty free shops and restaurants to occupy the weary traveler. The airport now offers daily flights to New York, Boston, Orlando and Minneapolis in the United States as well as Halifax and Toronto in Canada. The European continent is also well served by Keflavik with daily, non-stop flights to over 20 destinations.
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