Keflavik International Airport

Overview summary

l Airport is the largest Airport in Iceland. It is also Iceland’s main international hub with most of the airport’s traffic being international.

It is situated to the west of the town of Keflavik in south-western Iceland.

The airport has a dedicated private jet terminal, which handles the majority of Iceland’sPrivate Jet traffic.

For private jet hire to or from Keflavik International Airport call PrivateFly on +44 (0) 20 7100 6960 (24 hours).

History | Landing at Keflavik International | Location| Facts| Opening Hours

History

The United States Military built Keflavik International Airport during the SecondWorld War.

It was used as an airfield to operate bombers and fighter jets. There were 2runways for fighter jets and one runway for bombers.

During the war the airport was only used by the military but after the war it’s strategiclocation meant that it became a refuelling stop for transatlantic flights.

After US forces withdrew in 1947, the airport was handed over to Iceland. In 1951however, US forces returned to the airport and it remained a joint use facility until 2006.

Landing

Location

The Airport is located on the tip of South-western Iceland. Its just 2 miles west of thetown of Keflavik after which it is named and is 30 miles away from Iceland’s capitalReykjavik to the north-east, a 40 minute drive away.

Facts

The airport’s codes are: IATA - KEF, ICAO - BIKF
Latitude: 63°59'06"N
Longitude: 22°36'20"W
Elevation: 52m (171ft)
The airport has 2 runways. Runway 02/20 is 3054m (10020ft) long and runway 11/29 is 3065m (10056ft) long.
The former US Navy base at the airport called United States Naval Air Station Keflavikwas featured in Tom Clancy's novel Red Storm Rising
The runways are long enough to support NASA’s Space Shuttle and the Antonov An-225.

Operating Hours

The airport is open 24 hours a day.