Akureyri Airport

Overview

Akureyri International Airport is the main air gateway for Akureyri in northern Iceland and an important arrival point for travellers heading into the wider Eyjafjordur region. Identified by IATA code AEY and ICAO code BIAR, it is classified as a large airport and handles both domestic and international traffic. Its low elevation of just 6 feet (2 metres) places it almost at sea level, which is typical of airports serving Iceland’s coastal settlements. For visitors, that means a convenient entry point close to town rather than a remote inland field.

What travellers should know

• The airport uses the Atlantic/Reykjavik time zone, the same time standard used across Iceland.
• It has one runway, 01/19, measuring 8,858 feet, with an asphalt surface and lighting for operations in low light.
• Because it serves northern Iceland, the airport can be a practical starting point for regional sightseeing as well as onward road travel.
• Its single-runway layout keeps the airport relatively straightforward to navigate compared with larger hub airports.

Why it matters

For many visitors, the biggest advantage of Akureyri International Airport is ease and efficiency. It offers access to Iceland’s second urban centre without the scale and congestion of a major capital-city airport, making arrivals and departures feel simpler. The lighted runway supports reliable operations through Iceland’s darker seasons, while the airport’s location near Akureyri helps cut transfer time once you land. Official visitor and operational information is available through the airport website, which is useful to check before travel for the latest local guidance.