Air traffic in Iceland reaches record levels as sector rebounds post-pandemic

There has been a significant increase in air traffic in Iceland, suggesting that the aviation sector is rebounding after the pandemic. In August 2024, new records were established for both the number of aircraft passing through Icelandic airspace and the total kilometers flown. A total of 22,568 flights were recorded, covering an impressive 32 million kilometers, according to Isavia.

This marks the second consecutive month of record-breaking traffic, following a similar achievement in July. Year-on-year, August saw an increase of 5.4%, building on the fact that August 2023 was previously the busiest month of that year until it was surpassed in July.

When reviewing the figures from the first eight months of 2024, a total of 85,000 overflights were recorded, compared to 81,000 in 2018. There were also 46,000 flights to and from Iceland, slightly down from 48,000 in 2018, and 8,000 domestic flights, down from 10,000 in 2018. This data indicates a robust recovery in North Atlantic air traffic since the pandemic.

The current geopolitical climate, particularly the airspace closures in Russia, has altered air traffic patterns across Iceland’s control area. Flights between Asia and Europe, such as those from Tokyo to major European cities, are now routed through Icelandic airspace, leading to increased kilometers flown. As it stands, the total number of flights in the oceanic area is projected to surpass 200,000 by the end of the year.