The airline Iceland Express has applied for permission to construct a new 6,500-square-meter airport in Reykjavík, near the current domestic airport, to serve both international and domestic transport.
According to Fréttabladid, Iceland Express’ purpose with the new airport is to compete with the domestic airline Air Iceland, which almost has a monopoly in the domestic airline market. International flights would likely only be to London at first.
The application, which was sent to the Reykjavík City Council and the aviation service Flugstodir (ISAVIA), requests permission for a lot for an airport terminal, which Iceland Express states is a prerequisite for competition on the domestic airline market. Minister of Transport Kristján Möller received a copy of the application.
CEO of ISAVIA Thorgeir Pálsson, which operates Reyjavík domestic airport, said he was positive towards improvements in domestic air transport. “Therefore we will take this application seriously and discuss this with them [Iceland Express].”
Möller agreed, but would not comment further on the case. Neither Mayor of Reykjavík Vilhjálmur Th. Vilhjálmsson, nor Iceland Express CEO Matthías Imsland could be reached yesterday.
