Evironmental issues

During the adoption, important environmental aspects in the operation of Isavia ohf. were analysed. A detailed monitoring plan for these aspects was created, and the main environmental risks in the operation were assessed. The Isavia Academy had overall supervision of the composition of a digital training course for employees. The course addressed the company’s environmental policy, actions to take regarding environmental issues, the adoption of the standard and was held in co-operation with Isavia’s Environmental Department. The course was launched at the beginning of 2021.

One unit at Isavia ANS, Gufunes Iceland Radio, has had ISO14001 certification since 2018.

There was one major pollution incident at Keflavík Airport last year. The incident occurred when the landing gear of Icelandair’s Boeing 757 failed. More than five thousand litres of jet fuel spilled onto one of the runways. The specially trained employees of Airport Operations were, however, able to clear the spill before it reached the grounds adjoining the runway. The accident occurred while the ground was still frozen, which made quite a difference, and no soil renewal was required as a result. In addition, there were a few minor fuel mishaps during refills on the aprons at Keflavík Airport. These were minor leaks onto the tarmac and were cleaned up.

No rulings have been made where the company was considered to have violated environment protection legislation.

water

Isavia is conscious of the importance of preserving the freshness and cleanliness of the groundwater in the surrounding area. Verkís has overall responsibility for groundwater research and analysis at Keflavík Airport. Samples have been taken every year since 2017. These samples continue to show the presence of undesirable chemicals in groundwater, most of which can be traced to the operations of a third-party years ago. Their concentration, however, is low. There are indications that the condition of groundwater in and around the airport are improving. Isavia will continue to take measurements and monitor the quality of groundwater.

Isavia obtains water from utilities at each site and has not reused or recycled water from airport areas. In recent years, Isavia has improved wastewater drainage at international airports, which is commonly connected to municipal drainage systems. In 2016, work was carried out on refurbishing wastewater drainage from the west part of Keflavík Airport, which drains into the sea. A two-stage pumping and filter station was built at Djúpavík south of Stafnes in Sandgerði and a new and longer outlet laid out to sea. Isavia operates one two-stage pumping and filter station at Djúpuvík that supplies a part of Keflavík Airport. In other respects, Isavia uses the sewage system of the municipalities in which each workplace is located, and the recipient is in all cases the sea, although the level of sewage cleaning may differ. Oil separators and settlement ponds receive the majority of the polluting materials that otherwise would end up in the sewage system.

ECOSYSTEM

Biodiversity at Isavia airports is as diverse as it is numerous. The Reykjanes peninsula is a UNESCO Global Geopark and, as such, is of major significance as regards geological formations. Some of these are globally unique. In this context, the best-known example is probably how well one can see the plate boundaries of the Eurasian and North American plates. There are no geological formations within the Keflavík Airport area even though the airport is certainly located in an interesting geological area.

Isavia has closely monitored wildlife within airport zones and has analysed adjacent airport environments in terms of the presence of animals and birds. The areas are extremely diverse as regards vegetation and availability of food, with the result that their attractiveness to wild animals and birds differs from place to place. Measures taken to reduce the risk for air passengers and reduce the likelihood of collisions between wildlife and aircraft are an important facet in the operation of airports. A range of methods, such as habitat management, are used to keep wildlife and birds away.

Isavia has, for a number of years, monitored wildlife on airports throughout Iceland. The employees of Isavia who are involved in wildlife management register the number and species of wildlife that can be seen at the airport. Considerable efforts are spent on mapping wildlife behaviour, particularly that of birds at and near the airports, and employees involved in this work have extensive experience in wildlife management. In 2018, Isavia enlisted the help of Náttúrustofa Reykjaness (The Southwest Iceland Nature Research Centre) and Þekkingasetur Suðurnesja (Suðurnes Science and Learning Centre) to carry out a detailed examination of birdlife at Keflavík Airport. At the time, the most recent examination had been performed in 1975. The results of the examination have been used by the airport’s employees to improve the habitat and wildlife management in the area.

Isavia registers all possible aircraft collisions between birds and wild animals at all its airports. Last year, 9 confirmed instances of birdstrike were registered at Keflavík Airport. At domestic airports no birdstrikes were registered.