The Keflavik International Airport, the entry point for almost all tourists to the country, is working on a roughly $1 billion-expansion to accommodate the crush of travelers and airlines that need more space at what’s becoming one of Europe’s hottest airports.
In 2015, the country’s airport operator ISAVIA projected that Keflavik would handle 8.8 million travelers a year by 2025. It now expects more than 10 million passengers this year and more than 17 million annual travelers in 2030. The airport is already hitting close to max capacity at certain times of the day.
The expansion includes at least 26 new gates, 16 of them connected to the airport, according to ISAVIA, which operates all of the country’s public airports. The Keflavik airport is also planning to increase retail and dining space, a welcome addition for travelers dealing with long lines for food or coffee at concession stands. The project will be funded by airline landing fees, concession and other non-aeronautical revenue and loans, airport officials say