Akureyri Airport Expands: New Terminal and Ramp Unveiled on 70th Anniversary

A new terminal and a new ramp were inaugurated and officially put into use on the 70th anniversary of Akureyri Airport, December 5. There was a large crowd on the field where the milestone was celebrated with staff, contractors, and councilors.

The new airfield is 33,000 square meters in size and has two designated jet zones. Overall, Akureyri Airport can now receive up to 12 to 14 planes instead of the previous 4 to 5.

"It is not by chance that this day was chosen to put this new addition formally into use," says Sigrún Björk Jakobsdóttir, Managing Director of Isavia Domestic Airports. "Seven decades ago, to the day, Akureyri Airport was inaugurated in a solemn ceremony, and the day is therefore symbolic in the history of the field."

Sigrún emphasized that the new terminal and apron align with the robust development of international flights through Akureyri Airport:

"This building will accommodate up to half a million passengers, while current passenger numbers are around 200,000 annually. Of these, international passengers make up around 16%, and this is where our operations are growing. Here, opportunities are on the rise, and there is an attacking spirit."

Many guests attended the ceremony, including Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Minister of Finance and Economy, who broke ground on the extension in 2021 and Ásthildur Sturludóttir, Mayor of Akureyri.

Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Minister of Infrastructure, described the new ramp and expanded terminal as significant advancements for air transport in the North:

"They strengthen the role of Akureyri Airport as a gateway for domestic connections, international flights, and as a backup airport. A strong airport in Akureyri brings substantial income and benefits to the region, supporting the strategy of spreading tourism across the country. These structures symbolize the visible successes of recent years."

At the inauguration, Sigrún Björk Jakobsdóttir thanked everyone who contributed to the project over the years. She presented Hjördís Þórhallsdóttir, Airport Manager at Akureyri Airport, with a framed access card to the expanded terminal.

Finally, Sigrún quoted the former Minister of Transport, Ingólfur Jónsson, who spoke at the terminal's inauguration on December 5, 1954: "I wish that a hidden protective force will always follow this spot so that everyone can safely arrive and depart."