Keflavik Airport

712 thousand guests in September at Keflavík Airport

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Keflavík Airport handled a total of 711,978 passengers in September 2026, representing a 5.2% decrease compared with the same month last year. During the month, 25 airlines operated direct services to 69 destinations, maintaining a broad network of connections despite the year-on-year decline in passenger traffic.

The busiest day of the month was Sunday, 6 September, when 28,855 passengers travelled through the airport in a single day.

Copenhagen, London and New York Lead Destination Demand

In September, 25 airlines offered direct flights from Keflavík Airport to 69 destinations. Copenhagen, London and New York were the most popular destinations of the month, highlighting continued demand across key European and North American markets.

Americans Remain the Largest Group of Foreign Departing Passengers, While Canadian and Chinese Traffic Grows

According to figures from the Icelandic Tourist Board, American travellers accounted for the largest share of foreign departing passengers in September. Approximately 73,000 American passengers departed Iceland through Keflavík Airport, representing 31.9% of all departures. This was a 2.1% decrease compared with September last year.

Other markets recorded notable year-on-year growth:

  • Canada: The number of Canadian passengers increased by 66.6% compared with September last year. Approximately 15,000 Canadian passengers accounted for 6.5% of total departures, making Canada the third-largest market.

  • China: Departures by Chinese travellers increased by 31.6% year-on-year. Approximately 18,000 Chinese passengers accounted for 8.0% of total departures.

Meanwhile, approximately 58,000 Icelandic passengers travelled abroad in September, representing a 1.1% decrease compared with the same month last year.

Passenger Trends from January to September 2026

From January to September, approximately 1.792 million foreign passengers departed Iceland through Keflavík Airport. This represented a 0.8% decrease compared with the same period last year, indicating relative stability in the number of foreign departing passengers.

Outbound travel by Icelandic residents saw a more pronounced decline. During the first nine months of the year, approximately 493,000 Icelandic passengers travelled abroad, a 9.5% decrease compared with the corresponding period last year.

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