On a windswept stretch of the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 50 kilometres southwest of Reykjavík, stands Keflavík International Airport (Keflavíkurflugvöllur). Today, it is the entry and exit point for nearly all who travel to and from Iceland from overseas, processing millions of passengers each year, despite Iceland’s modest population of around 400,000.
From military beginnings to civilian hub
The origins of Keflavík Airport are tied to World War II, when the United States military constructed two airfields here amid the strategic Allied occupation of Iceland. The northern field, Meeks Field, opened in 1943 and was named after a young American pilot who lost his life in Reykjavík. A second, Patterson Field, also operated in the area but did not survive the postwar years.
After the war, Meeks Field and its facilities were handed over to Icelandic authorities, and the site became known as Keflavík Airport in reference to the nearby town. By 1951, a renewed US military presence was cemented under a defence agreement, making the airport a centre for both military and civilian aviation. For decades, a fenced-off American base, at times home to thousands of personnel and their families, stood next to the airport. This base, colloquially called Keflavíkurstöðin, shaped the town and its economy until the US withdrawal in 2006. The base neighbourhood is now called Ásbrú within Reykjanesbær.
The evolution of international travel
Civilian passenger services at Keflavík initially meant passing through the military base, with terminals situated inside the restricted area. A turning point came in 1987, with the opening of a dedicated civilian facility, Flugstöð Leifs Eiríkssonar (the Leif Erikson Air Terminal), finally providing travellers separate access away from military oversight.
As aviation technology advanced, Keflavík saw the arrival of larger aircraft that could not use the smaller runways of Reykjavík Airport. By the 1970s, Keflavík had become Iceland’s main international airport, and the capital’s domestic airport focused on shorter flights, mostly within the country or to places like Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Through subsequent decades, the terminal at Keflavík expanded multiple times to meet rising demand, most recently with additions between 2023 and 2025. Its spacious runways have not only accommodated major transatlantic traffic but also provided diversion options for large planes and NASA’s Space Shuttle in emergencies.
Connected to Reykjavík by a modern highway, and operated by the government-owned company Isavia, Keflavík serves as a vital hub in the North Atlantic. By 2025, it is used by 27 airlines and remains the fifth busiest airport among the Nordic countries, a remarkable position for a country of its size.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
