5.6 million guests expected this summer
An estimated 8.2 million guests are expected to travel through Keflavík Airport (KEF) in 2025, with 5.6 million of them passing through during the summer months. On average, 180 flights are scheduled to depart daily from the airport throughout the summer season. Travelers will be able to fly to 89 destinations, with 27 airlines offering direct flights from KEF.
Busy summer ahead
KEF's passenger forecast anticipates traffic from April to October to be on par with last year. Of the 5.6 million guests expected over the summer, with 1.7 million being connecting passengers. Additionally, around 1.5 million foreign tourists and 400,000 Icelanders are expected to travel through the airport.
This summer, we expect to welcome 5.6 million guests, marking moderate growth compared to last year. Earlier this year, the new east wing was fully opened, adding four new boarding gates with direct access to aircraft. This improvement allows us to further enhance the passenger experience, especially during peak travel periods like the summer season.
Grétar Már GarðarssonDirector of Airline Relations and Marketing
New and exciting destinations this summer
A total of 11 new destinations will be added this summer across various airlines. Icelandair is introducing two new routes, with direct flights to Nashville and Gothenburg. Play will add four destinations: Aalborg, Antalya, Faro, and Valencia.
Additionally, Air Baltic will begin flights to Tallinn and easyJet to Basel. Two new airlines will also join KEF this summer: Discover Airlines from Munich and LOT Polish Airlines from Warsaw.
A summer travel adventure ahead
An average of 180 daily departures are expected from KEF this summer, with direct flights to 89 destinations offered by 27 airlines. Among the busiest routes will be Copenhagen and New York with six daily flights each, London with five, and Amsterdam, Boston, Paris, and Oslo with four daily flights.
Total aircraft movements—arrivals and departures combined—are expected to reach nearly 38,000 during the summer, similar to last year but a significant increase from earlier years.
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Icelandic airlines introduce new routes
This summer, the Icelandic airlines have introduced new changes. Icelandair launched its first flight to Nashville in April and will operate the route four times a week throughout the summer. Gothenburg service will begin at the end of June with two weekly flights through August. In September, the airline will add a new direct route to Istanbul with four weekly flights. Overall, Icelandair will serve over 50 destinations this summer, including 19 in North America.
Play will offer over 30 destinations this summer, including its four new additions: Aalborg (Denmark), Antalya (Turkey), Faro (Portugal), and Valencia (Spain).
Iceland remains a desirable destination
International airlines are also expanding their presence at KEF with new direct routes. The airline easyJet began flying to Basel, Switzerland, in early April and will operate twice weekly through October. This adds to the five other destinations easyJet serves to and from KEF during the summer.
WestJet has increased its capacity by 40% this summer and will operate daily flights during the peak season. This marks WestJet’s second summer of service between Calgary, Canada, and KEF.
It’s encouraging to see international airlines show continued confidence in Iceland as a destination. For example, WestJet is continuing its direct flights from Calgary, which began last year, and both LOT and Discover Airlines are joining us this summer. This highlights Iceland's position as a highly sought-after travel destination.
Grétar Már GarðarssonDirector of Airline Relations and Marketing