Did you know that the first airplane in Iceland took flight in 1919? That very first flight soared from the very spot where Birk Airport now stands. This isn’t just any airport. It’s Reykjavik Airport. Officially known as Reykjavíkurflugvöllur and using the IATA code RKV and ICAO code BIRK it holds a special place in Icelandic aviation history.
Reykjavik Airport didn’t spring up overnight. Its story began long before the sleek metal birds that grace its runways today. It started as a small airfield. Imagine a grassy field. Not a paved runway. A simple grassy field. Then came World War II. The British Army stepped in. They built a runway right here over sunken oil barrels. Think of it. A wartime improvisation. A temporary fix that became a cornerstone of Icelandic aviation. The British Royal Air Force used it. They named it RAF Reykjavik.
For years this small airport thrived. It became the main hub for Iceland’s first airline Flugfélag Akureyrar. This airline later changed its name to Flugfélag Íslands and eventually became the Icelandair we know today. It served both domestic and international flights. But as planes grew bigger and bigger Reykjavik Airport found itself a bit too small. Larger aircraft like the Boeing 727 and the Canadair CL-44 were too big for the runways.
International flights were moved to Keflavík International Airport. But Reykjavik Airport remained. It continues to be important. It serves domestic flights. It is a vital domestic hub for Icelandair. It handles medivacs and private flights. Plus it acts as a backup for Keflavík when weather turns nasty.
The airport underwent a major renovation starting in 2000. This modernization lasted for two years. A local referendum was held in 2001. The results were almost dead even. Around 50% wanted the airport moved. Almost 50% wanted it to stay. But because fewer than 40% of people voted the result wasn’t considered binding. The debate about the future of Reykjavik Airport continues even today.
So stand here. Gaze at the runways. Hear the distant hum of engines. Picture that first Avro 504. Remember those oil barrels. Understand the ongoing debate. This is more than just an airport. It is a living testament to Iceland’s aviation journey. Its history is written right here on the tarmac. It’s a story of innovation. Of wartime necessity. And of a small airport that refuses to be forgotten.