Keflavík Airport (KEF) in Iceland expects to welcome approximately 8.5 million passengers in 2024, according to its airport’s passenger forecast for 2024.
Such a figure represents a 9.6 per cent increase from the 7.74 million travellers last year.
If this forecast holds, 2024 will be the third-biggest year ever for KEF, with the most foreign tourists coming to Iceland. The highest number of passengers within this airport was recorded in 2018, with 9.8 million arrivals, followed by 2017 with 8.8 million.
The Director of Business and Development at Isavia, Guðmundur Daði Rúnarsson said that they expect more visitors in 2024, while mentioning the recent airport investments.
Our recent investments in airport development have started to yield results, offering improved facilities for passengers and staff.
If this forecast holds, 2024 will be the third-largest year in KEF’s history, marked by the highest volume of foreign tourists arriving in Iceland.
Referring to the forecast, Rúnarsson said that there will be a more balanced rise in the number of passengers, including foreign tourists visiting Iceland, in the winter months compared to the summer months.
More specifically, during the winter months, passenger numbers are expected to grow by 15.2 per cent or 354,000. Meanwhile, the summer months are expected to see an increase of 391,000 passengers, marking a year-on-year rise of 7.2 percent.
This will contribute to a more balanced and year-round utilisation of the airport and Iceland’s tourism infrastructure in general.
Apart from the passenger forecast, KEF expects an increase in the number of tourists as well.
Nearly 2.38 million foreign tourists are forecasted to visit Iceland, which is around 60,000 more than the 2.32 million tourists in 2018, representing the highest number of foreign tourists so far. Whereas last year, Iceland welcomed 2.21 million tourists.
KEF further noted that this year, the first east wing – a new terminal extension with a more expansive baggage hall and a more efficient baggage system – was put into operation. In addition, a new taxiway has been opened, which according to KEF, decreased aircraft waiting time.
In the second half of 2024, the east wing will be fully operational, with construction commencing in mid-2021. This phase will include new boarding gates, as well as an expanded area for shops and restaurants.
According to him, these developments will contribute to accommodating more passengers and improving facilities for the airport’s staff and business partners.
Keflavík Airport expanded its connectivity to five new destinations last year, providing flights to a total of 83 destinations operated by 26 airlines.
In addition, Iceland’s International airport introduced a new arrival border for passengers from non-Schengen countries. As authorities of Iceland stated back then, such an initiative was taken in an effort to ease and improve the handling of the passengers.
