Modest increase in passengers numbers in 2025

In 2024, just under 8.3 million passengers traveled through the airport, so the forecast predicts a 0.8% increase from year to year. A 3% rise in the number of foreign visitors is expected, with their numbers reaching over 2.32 million—around 9,000 more than the previous record year, 2018.

Keflavík Airport's (KEF) 2025 passenger forecast projects that 8.37 million passengers will pass through the airport. Only twice have the numbers been higher: 8.76 million in 2017 and 9.80 million in 2018. With nearly 8.30 million in 2024, this means a projected increase of 0.8% year-on-year. When looking at individual months, the greatest increase in passenger numbers is expected in April (16.7%) and May (7.1%).

During the summer months, 26 airlines will operate scheduled flights to 92 destinations, while 21 airlines will fly to 70 destinations during the winter months. It is estimated that connecting/transit passengers will account for about 30% of the total number of passengers, which is similar to 2024. Connecting passengers are those who use KEF as a transfer hub without staying in Iceland.

Alongside the passenger forecast, projections were also made for the number of foreign tourists expected to come to Iceland in 2025, as well as the number of Icelanders traveling abroad.

According to the forecast, just over 2.32 million foreign tourists will arrive in Iceland via KEF in 2025. That is nearly 9,000 more than the record year of 2018, pointing toward a new record year for international arrivals. In the past year, there were about 2.26 million foreign tourists, so a 3.0% year-on-year increase is expected. The greatest increases are projected for April (16.6%), May (10.8%), and June (6.1%).

Travel by Icelanders abroad is expected to increase by 1% year-on-year. The forecast estimates that around 612,000 Icelandic residents will travel abroad, which corresponds to an average of 1.6 international trips per person in the year.