Development

Self service options at Keflavík Airport

Keflavík International Airport

The Leif Eiríksson Air Terminal was inaugurated in April 1987. It was, at the time, around 20,000 m2. At present, it is approximately 73,000 m2, 3.5 times larger than when opened. During the terminal’s first year of operation, 750 thousand passengers passed through it. In 2019, this number had risen to 7.25 million passengers. This is beyond what was stated in the basic passenger forecast of the Masterplan for Keflavík Airport. The schedule assumed 8.8 million passengers in 2025 and 13.8 million passengers in 2040.

It is clear, therefore, that to meet international service standards, the airport’s capacity will have to be increased, and the development plan for Keflavík Airport is prepared to meet this need. The schedule is based on an extensive needs assessment. The tasks of the schedule are divided between air terminal projects, airport systems projects and road construction projects. Work was begun in 2020 on designing projects that will be tendered, and construction will begin in 2021.

Air terminal systems

This year we plan to issue invitations to tender for projects relating to two extensions to the Leifur Eiríksson Air Terminal. Construction is expected to be complete in 2022. One is a single-floor extension with a basement that will improve the baggage processing of arrivals in the terminal. Considerable changes will be made to the internal organisation of the arrivals area, and a part of this is the instalment of new baggage handling systems.

The other is an extension on two floors, without a basement, attached to the south building of the terminal. This is intended to improve the facilities offered to passengers passing through the departures gates at the east end of the south building. Included in the project is a new passenger boarding bridge (PBB).

Runway systems

An invitation to tender for the construction regarding two taxiways at Keflavík Airport will be issued and are to be completed this year. One is a new 1200 m taxiway for aircrafts that links the terminal’s apron to the runway, and the other is maintenance and renewal of lighting equipment on one of the airport’s large taxiways. The new taxiway will increase the safety and efficiency of the runway system

Roadworks

The plan is to issue an invitation to tender for two new roads within the airport area and to finish their construction this year. One of these roads is a 1500 m long service road to the construction site and will, in the future, be of use for goods transport to and from the airport area and the terminal. The other is a 500 m circular connection which will link the current traffic system in the forecourt of the terminal to the current layout of Reykjanesbraut. This will considerably improve road safety and will decrease traffic blockages at the terminal.

Another project for 2021 is the initiation of the design or continuance of projects that are next on the development schedule. The airport terminal projects are, according to the development schedule, as follows:

• The continued broadening of the concourse between the north and south buildings, with new borders and the enlargement of the food and beverage area.
• A new concourse with up to 17 aircraft gates with gangways together with gates for remote stands.
• New service desks for arrivals and departures passengers in the new north building, together with an area for baggage screening.

The airport systems projects are intended to increase the capacity and safety of the runway system and eliminate the bottlenecks that could form there. These projects include a de-icing apron, new access taxiways, a fast-track taxiway and other connections between aprons and taxiways. In addition, work has begun on preparations for a vehicle parking building to the west of the Leifur Eiríksson Air Terminal.

Invitations to tender for project management and project supervision as regards the construction at Keflavík Airport were completed at the end of 2019 and resulted in a long-term agreement with the UK construction and consultancy firm Mace. Mace employees began work at the beginning of 2020, and there are, as a rule, 2–4 employees in Iceland who are involved in the preparations for construction.

Mace will be responsible for the project and its supervision as regards the planned construction, including the construction of the East Pier, a new concourse to the east and the construction of a new airport building. In addition, the company will also provide consultancy services for other Isavia projects at Keflavík Airport, including a linking building for the widening of the boarding corridor between the north and south building of the airport. There is still some way to go before construction can begin on the East Pier and the new terminal, as construction of this magnitude requires several years of preparatory work. The work of Mace during the year has included the organisation of project management, project governance, risk assessment, communications with stakeholders, sustainability and more.

Keflavík Airport major development plan

Isavia Regional Airports

Maintenance work is carried out on runways, aprons and buildings each year, insofar as funds allow. The following regional airports were painted during the year: Reykjavík, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Höfn, Vopnafjörður, Þórshöfn, Bakki, Sandskeið, Gjögur and Reykjahlíð. The volume of paint used was: 10,359 litres of white, 1,124 litres of yellow and 468 litres of black.

A number of urgent tasks were undertaken in 2020, which were on the National Transport Policy schedule, and in addition, funds were allocated through the economic efforts of the government. An example of these is the overlay laid at Þórshöfn Airport and Ísafjörður Airport, the latter of which also had its parking area asphalted at long last.

Bakkaflugvöllur Airport and Reykhólar Airport, moreover, were repaved. The precision approach path indicator (PAPI) was renewed at Blönduós Airport and is a vital piece of equipment for ambulance flights. Work on the renewal of runway lights at Hornafjörður Airport began in the autumn but was then postponed to the spring due to weather conditions.

At Reykjavík Airport, the aprons at Básar were paved. This project was vital, as this part of the airport is first and foremost used for smaller jets and private aircraft. The fencing around the area controlled by the Coast Guard Patrol was renewed. Over 1,500 m of barbed wire was laid on top of the airport fence to ensure flight protection.

At Akureyri Airport, work on the installation of ILS equipment was completed and the ILS equipment deployed at the end of January 2020. The new approach improved access to Akureyri considerably. The approach is important to both the aircraft that regularly fly to the airport according to schedules to and from the airport as well as being extremely important for new operators arriving in Akureyri. Norlandair, for example, has voiced its approval of the approach, and it proved its worth when Transavia came to Akureyri Airport at the beginning of the year in what can only be termed as demanding circumstances.

Work on a new apron at Akureyri Airport continued in 2020 with the completion of the design of the lower foundations. Work was carried out on a new fuel depot area at Akureyri Airport in the latter part of 2020 when fuel tanks were moved to a new location at the planned new apron. In addition, the use of the septic tank for the air terminal in Akureyri was discontinued and a new wastewater treatment plant put into use. The wastewater treatment plant is an environmentally friendly solution, and its use is a huge step in the environmental issues of Akureyri Airport.

The design of a new addition to the Akureyri Airport terminal began in 2020. The addition is intended for international flights and will help the airport to establish itself as an international airport.

At Egilsstaðir Airport, the office facilities were renewed and the roof repaired.

On the basis of the economic efforts expended by the authorities, an agreement was reached with Flugmálafélag Íslands (the Icelandic Aeronautical Association of Iceland) for the maintenance of smaller landing fields. The Association embarked on improvements to landing fields such as that at Hella Airport and will continue to undertake such projects during 2021.

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

The development plans for Keflavík Airport are updated on a yearly basis, and its Master Plan is updated approximately every five years. The airport’s Masterplan and Development Plan communicate our plans for expansion to the local community. The economic impact of the airport on the nearby community and the Icelandic economy in general is considerable, as is the importance of the airport for Iceland’s main industry, tourism. Stakeholders have great expectations for successful development, and the Development Plan deals in particular with the cost estimates and time schedules for the work and analyses passenger patterns and air traffic in the context of building plans.

The Development Plan for Keflavík Airport was updated in 2019, and the Masterplan was presented in 2015. Both the Development Plan and the Masterplan should have been updated in 2020 but were postponed due to uncertainties in the flight services sector. We anticipate that new updates of both will be advertised in 2021.

The airport’s Masterplan and Development Plan are optional – they are not acknowledged in Icelandic legislation and planning environment, but they are used abroad. The aim is to communicate a future vision for the airport, setting out phasing and flexible plans that take into account passenger and traffic forecasts and communicate information on building plans to stakeholders. Planning of this type is an approach that Isavia has selected to set forth its building and development plans. The airport has gone further in its assessment of the environmental impact and has demonstrated that the overall impact of its Development Plan goes further than the requirements laid down in environmental impact assessment legislation.

The airport’s Masterplan and Development Plan have been approved by Isavia’s Board of Directors after having been considered by the Executive Board. The Masterplan is a future vision for the airport as regards land use and communications with the community connected to the airport. The Development Plan is issued once or twice a year and covers the next seven years. The Masterplan covers the next 25 years and is issued every 3–5 years. The updated development plan shows new areas of developments and the changes that have been made to plans over the last five years – since the last version in 2015.

The Development Plan is presented to stakeholders and at consultation meetings, and comments are invited. The websites of the development plan and construction plans are used to communicate information and invite comments from stakeholders. Actions are prioritised in terms of importance on the basis of a needs assessment and requirements based on user expectations and international regulations and standards. This approach of formulating a Masterplan and Development Plan is systematic, and Isavia has acquired certain experience in this regard. Both the Development Plan and the Masterplan have been issued twice.

The Development Plan is sent in its entirety to the Icelandic National Planning Agency, where the environmental impact of the planned building work is assessed. Environmental impact assessments are usually linked to individual projects, but the Development Plan enables the overall impact of the planned works to be assessed before work beginning over the coming years, taking into account the increased capacity and impact on environmental and social factors.

The environmental impact assessment of the Development Plan shows the effect that the expansion plans and mitigations measures for the airport will have. Several projects proposed in the Development Plan and Masterplan promote reducing the environmental impact of the airport, such as a de-icing apron and shortening taxiing distances for aircraft. The design for the airport expansion takes account of the BREEAM environmental certification system.

Keflavík Airport causes an increased indirect environmental impact, but greater capacity will create jobs and bring economic benefits for the immediate community. In this connection, we shall have to expect some undesirable consequences of increased air traffic, such as noise, more cars on Iceland’s roads, carbon dioxide emissions, etc. Isavia monitors noise and air pollution near the airport and officially publishes the findings. Isavia also favours environmentally friendly solutions for expanding the airport and terminal.

It is difficult to assess the indirect impact of the operations at Keflavík Airport, but a report commissioned by Isavia on the significance of airport development for the future clearly shows the expected direct economic impact.

The British construction and consultancy firm Mace has, as of the beginning of 2020, worked as Isavia’s partner in the development of Keflavík Airport. The company will be responsible for project management and supervision as regards upcoming construction. It will also be invaluable for providing its expertise in such large projects. Among the tasks Mace undertook in 2020 was to define consultation processes with stakeholders as regards construction at Keflavík Airport and to establish ambitious development plans for the airport as regards its future legacy and the sustainability of the work. Particular attention was paid to the effects on neighbouring communities, employment opportunities and environmental issues.

When formulating its Masterplan, Isavia has endeavoured to foster good relations with the immediate community. Consultation meetings are held when devising plans, and plans are regularly presented to stakeholders and the media.

Isavia has set up a consultation forum in conjunction with the immediate community – under the aegis of the UN Global Goals – and has good relations with the main stakeholders. The collaborative project, entitled Suðurnesjavettvangur (Suðurnes Forum), involves the four municipalities in the Suðurnes region – Grindavíkurbær, Reykjanesbær, Suðurnesjabær and Vogar – together with Isavia, Kadeco and the Association of Suðurnes Municipalities. Numerous meetings were held by the representatives appointed by these groups in 2020. Four groups were appointed to address specific issues, and all submitted their proposals for remedies that accorded with the Global Goals. A discussion meeting was subsequently held in November where 140 members participated in lively discussions on the four issues at hand. An announcement was made at the end of the meeting that all those involved in the Suðurnes Forum would sign a declaration pledging to speed up the adoption of the circular economy in the area.