KEF passenger traffic up by 17.9 percent in 2011

Keflavik International Airport saw a 17.9 percent rise in passenger traffic in 1011 compared to 2010. The total of 2,112,017 passengers in 2011 marks a sharp return to pre 2008 figures with 1.7 million entering and leaving Iceland, a 16.3 percent increase. The number of transatlantic stop-over passengers also increased by 25% compared to 2010. 2011 marks the second busiest year at Keflavik, close behind 2007 that saw a record of nearly 2.2 million passengers. Last year’s increase equals the sharp increase in 2004 following the international slump in air travel in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on New York in 2011.

Keflavik’s largest operator, Icelandair, expects 2012 to be the busiest year in its history and several new operators have announced plans to fly to Iceland. Keflavik International predicts a 7.5 percent traffic increase in 2012.