It’s About Quality, Not Just Expansion

"We need to elevate the quality level at the airport, and one of the reasons for this is to ensure that the hub functions effectively," said Guðmundur Daði Rúnarsson, Director of Business and Development at Keflavík Airport, in a recent interview on Bítið, Bylgjan's morning show. He emphasized that the nature of airports is to develop and grow, and Keflavík Airport must participate in that evolution.

Guðmundur Daði highlighted the importance of ensuring high-quality standards at the airport. "It needs to be easy and comfortable. That is the strength of Keflavík Airport. That’s why we are opening the east wing," he explained. The new wing will feature four new gangways, allowing passengers to walk directly to the plane, and will provide more space for the airport's guests. He stressed the need to continue this journey: "If there isn’t enough space, you’ll be bused to the plane, and over time, customers may not view Keflavík favorably as a connecting hub."

The Hub is Essential for Iceland

When discussing the development of Keflavík Airport, Guðmundur Daði emphasized the importance of focusing on the quality of service rather than just the volume of traffic or the number of passengers the airport can accommodate. "Our ambition is to create a quality hub that provides our island nation with many essential benefits. We need flight connections, as they grant us access to business, culture, arts, exports, and education," he noted, cautioning against the notion of simply measuring whether enough has been built at Keflavík Airport.

East Wing to Be Fully Operational Next Spring

"We expect trials to take place in November and December, with full operations beginning next spring," Guðmundur Daði stated regarding the east wing. Construction on the east wing commenced in early summer 2021 and is being rolled out in phases. In mid-2023, a new baggage system was implemented in the basement, along with a new arrivals hall on the ground floor, providing more space and efficient baggage handling for the airport's guests. This year will also see the opening of a new restaurant area and an expanded arrivals duty-free store. When fully operational, the east wing will feature four new gangways and a larger waiting area for airport guests.

The Summer Showed the Strength of the Hub

"We believe the summer went very well," Guðmundur Daði remarked. He noted that passenger numbers slightly exceeded forecasts for June, July, and August. "While there were slightly fewer travelers coming to visit Iceland, the number of transfer passengers increased. This demonstrates the strength of the transfer hub model that Keflavík Airport operates. We can effectively respond to fluctuations in a small country like Iceland," he said.

This year, foreign tourist numbers are projected to reach around 2.2 million, just shy of the record year in 2018, with airport passengers expected to increase by 6% over the year. Guðmundur Daði mentioned that his international colleagues express envy upon hearing about the 6-8% annual growth rates, as their targets are typically 2-4%.

Guðmundur Daði expressed satisfaction with the summer's performance, especially given the significant ongoing construction. "There was a lot of construction happening, and we had excellent cooperation from everyone at the airport."