AKUREYRI AIRPORT (AEY) (AEY) INFORMATION

Akureyri International Airport is located 3 km/1.9 mi south of Akureyri. A town in northern Iceland. The airport is located at the very base of Iceland's longest fjord, Eyjafjörður, with the town located on the west side of the base of the fjord.

The fjord is not only the longest in Iceland but it is also located at the very middle of the island's northern coast line.

The airport is a public airport with a single passenger terminal, and it has one single runway made of asphalt, it is 2,400 m/7,874 ft long. It serves the Akureyri area, and it is owned by Isavia, Iceland's state owned airport and air navigation provider.

Akureyri Airport is the hub for Niceair and Norlandair and it has AEY as IATA code and BIAR as ICAO code. The airport serves mainly as a domestic airport, but also has scheduled international flights to Greenland and Copenhagen. Other airlines that operate at the airport include Condor, Icelandair, and Transavia, and seasonal international destinations include Frankfurt (beginning in May 2023), Tenerife-South, and Amsterdam.

A new passenger terminal is currently under construction to serve the growing demand for flights to Akureyri as the area is becoming more and more popular with tourists. The larger terminal will accommodate larger planes, more planes, larger quantities of passengers and it will also support the airport as a back-up for the country's larger airports in case flights for some reason cannot land there.

Transfers at Akureyri International Airport (AEY)

It is easy to transfer to Akureyri town from the airport as it is located only 3 km/1.9 mi to the north, and it is possible to walk into the town center from the airport in 30 minutes under good conditions and without larger luggage. But there are of course also options of transportation from the airport.

Rental cars - Several car rental agencies are located at the airport, including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Dollar. It is recommended to have an advance reservation for the vehicle of choice, although walk-up rentals may also be possible, but cannot be guaranteed. See and compare all rental car companies at Akureyri International Airport.

Public Transportation Buses - A bus route is scheduled with between 3-6 departures per day, each direction, between the airport and the nearby Campsite. The route takes the bus and its passengers to the center of the town as well as other areas of Akureyri. Total route journey time is 35 minutes, although the town center is only 6-7 minutes from the airport as the first two stops after departing from the airport.

The bus departure may be delayed if a scheduled arriving flight is delayed. Departure times and frequency vary depending on which day of the week it is. More information about buses to and from Akureyri International Airport.

Hotel Shuttles - Check with the hotel accommodation of your choice if they offer an airport transfer service. Additional charges may apply for this service.

Taxis - Taxis are waiting at the taxi rank located outside the airport terminal during times of scheduled arriving flights. The journey to the town center takes around 5 minutes depending on the exact location of the destination. See more information about taxis at Akureyri International Airport.

Private Shuttles - Private shuttles are a good alternative for destinations outside of Akureyri town. These are booked through the chosen company's website in advance of the arrival at the airport.

Trains - There are no trains in Iceland.

Ferries - The airport does not have a ferry transfer option. Ferries to the island of Hrísey depart from a location north of Akureyri, as do ferries to the Sandvik, on the island of Grimsey. Grimsey can also be reached through the scheduled flight service from Akureyri Airport.

Please check our ferry page for more details.

Parking at Akureyri International Airport (AEY)

Parking at the airport is free, although there may be a fee for longer term stays. There are two parking areas, Akureyri Airport Parking on the terminal's right hand side, and Akureyri Airport Long-term Parking on the left hand side. See more information about short and long term parking at Akureyri International Airport.

The parking areas are not secured, so make sure to not leave any valuables in the vehicle.

Special Assistance at Akureyri International Airport (AEY)

Special assistance is requested through the airline of choice at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure time.

Other services at Akureyri International Airport (AEY)

The airport is smoke free, but there is smoking allowed outside the terminal building on land slde. Once through the security control there is no smoking allowed.

There is no WiFi service available for travellers and visitors at the airport.

The airport does not have an ATM/cash machine available. The closest cash point can be found in the town center.

The nearest currency exchange services are found at the banks in Akureyri town. Service is available during the bank’s opening hours on weekdays, and no currency exchange service is available during weekends and bank holidays.

The airport bistro is situated in the terminal’s public area and it is open to flyers, locals, and people passing by alike. The atmosphere is friendly and chatty, partly due to the head of the bistro. They serve coffee, soft drinks and juices, as well as Icelandic twisted donuts (kleinur), sugared pancakes, sandwiches and a daily home cooked Icelandic midday meal.

The airport does not have a prayer room.

The airport has two check-in desks, and it is recommended to be there at least one hour prior to departure to avoid queues.

There are varying information about the presence of a duty free shop for international flights, but there is a tax-free form drop box located by the check-in desks where non-Icelandic residents can drop their tax-free form and the receipt of their purchase to request a refund of the tax paid on the item as all non-Icelandic residents are tax-free eligible. Certain regulations are in place, such as the sum being at least 6,000 ISK and if the sum is close to or above 1,000,000 ISK the local authorities have to be contacted while the traveller is still in the country.

History of Akureyri International Airport

The first scheduled flights to Akureyri took place in 1928 when Flugfélag Íslands (Airline of Iceland) provided a route to Reykjavik using seaplanes. Planes landed on and took off from Eyjafjörður close to the town during the following three years. before the airline ceased their operation.

In 1937 Flugfélag Akureyrar (Airline fo Akureyri) was founded, and even though there was no affiliation with the former airline it changed it name to Flugfélag Íslands in 1940, and in 1944 Loftleiðir also started to fly the route to Reykjavik.

Construction on the airport itself didn't start until 1950 at the chosen location a few km/mi from the center of the town.

Loftleiðir ceased their domestic routes to instead focus on international flights to North America and Europe in 1952, leaving Flugfélag Íslands with the only remaining flights on the route to Reykjavik.

A new airport terminal was constructed in 1961.

The two airlines, Loftleiðir and Flugfélag Íslands, merged into one airline, Icelandair, in 1973, and a year later, in 1974, Flugfélag Norðurlands, was founded in Akureyri. Flugfélag Norðurlands operated several domestic flights as well as charter flights to Greenland.

In 1997 Flugfélag Norðurlands merged with the domestic flight section of Icelandair, forming the third airline named Flugfélag Íslands.

Mýflug began providing ambulance flight services to the area in 2006, under contract with the Icelandic government, using a specially equipped aircraft that was based at Akureyri Airport. The operation was moved to Hangar 13 in 2008. This is the same year that Norlandair was founded, an airline that operates charter flights to Greenland, as well as cooperating with Icelandair in serving various destinations in north-eastern Iceland.

A renovation of the runway was completed in the summer of 2009, almost two years after it began. It included adding length, improving lighting and enhancing the approach system, and a new approach navigational system was installed the following year.

The need for an expanded passenger terminal and ramp area became obvious when Eyjafjallajökull erupted in 2010 and the airport had to work with passenger numbers and planes that exceed the airport's current capacity.

Akureyri International Airport (AEY) saw 202,252 passengers move through it in 2018. The same year there were 15,493 aircraft movements, and 302 tons of cargo came through the airport.

About Akureyri, Iceland

Akureyri is the largest Icelandic municipality outside of the country's most populated south-west corner where we find municipalities such as Reykjavik (the country's capital city), Hafnarfjörður, Kópavogur, and Reykjanesbær.

Akureyri is nicknamed the "Capital of North Iceland" because of its important port and fishing center.

It was the Norse Viking Helgi magri (the slim) that originally settled in the area, but permanent settlement didn't start until 1778. The first mention of Akureyri in any court records is from 1562 stating a woman's sentencing for adultery.

The areas natural harbour and fertility offered a supreme location for trading operations for Danish merchants who set camp at the location where Akureyri sits today, and it was given its municipality status by King Christian VII in 1786, along with five other Icelandic towns, but because the town didn't grow from its population of 12 people, the municipality status was lost again 1836, only to be regained in 1862. Since then the town grew, much because of the climate and the natural port.

Akureyri was used as an allied base during World War II, as one of three bases in Iceland.

The town's fishing industry has become more important in recent years, as one of the two major fishing companies in Iceland reside here, and it is an important source of revenue. In 1987, a university, the University of Akureyri, was founded, and it is rapidly growing.

The Akureyri municipality also includes the island of Hrísey, located in the northern part of the fjord, as of 2004, as well as the island of Grimsey located north of mainland Iceland. The arctic circle goes through Grimsey, at least until the middle of this century, because the arctic circle is dynamic and moves. The island has a small settlement, called Sandvik, with a population of less than 100.

Many of the town's streets are lined by trees, and it is a beautiful location, and there are ski slopes and many interesting locations to visit in the surrounding areas.

The population in Akureyri is approximately 20,000.

Weather in Akureyri, Iceland

Akureyri has a quite mild climate, with winters that are cold, but not severe, and summers that are mild. There is usually a cover of snow from late October until April, although the mountain peaks in the surrounding areas can have snow all year round. The average sunshine hours per year is 1,029, making Akureyri a very cloudy town, partly due to its closeness to the arctic circle.

There is however a lot less precipitation in Akureyri compared to the southern parts of Iceland due to the prevailing winds from the south.

Part of the reason why Eyjafjörður is such an excellent natural harbour is because it never freezes.

Useful Contact Details in Iceland

In the case of an emergency in Iceland where the police, the fire brigade or an ambulance has to be requested, please call 112, the 112 operator should be able to speak English.

Closest International Airport to Akureyri International Airport (AEY)

The closest international airport to AEY is Reykjavik Domestic Airport located 391 km/243 mi away.

Akureyri International Airport (AEY) Contacts

Address: Akureyri International Airport, Urðargil 15, 600 Akureyri, Iceland

General Phone: +354 424 4000

General Email: biar@isavia.is

Lost and Found Phone: +354 424 4000

Lost and Found Email: biar@isavia.is

Official Website: https://www.isavia.is/en/akureyri-airport

Local Information

Drive on: Right

Electricity: 230V/50Hz

Plug: C, F

Currency: Icelandic króna, kr, Íkr