Tourists trying to get to their outbound flights on Sunday faced long lines at Keflavík Airport. The lines snaked back and forth through the check-in hall which was packed to the door. Similar lines formed at the security gates.
Many travellers waited more than an hour in line at the check-in desk, followed by a half hour line at the security gate. Some of those standing in line were visibly frustrated as many feared they would miss their flights. However, all seventeen morning departures of Icelandair were delayed for as much as an hour to ensure all passengers got on board.
Arrive three hours before your flight to avoid problems
Guðni Sigurðsson, the spokesman of Isavia, which operates the airport, tells the local website turisti.is the explanation is simple: The terminal cannot handle the explosion of traffic. Work is underway to expand the check-in area, and the company is busy training and hiring new staff, but this takes time:
It is clear July will be difficult, and we can expect bottlenecks during peak hours in the morning and afternoon. We therefore encourage passengers to show up early, and we will also begin checking travellers in earlier to help spread the pressure better.
Passengers who are flying out between six and eight in the morning or three and five in the afternoon are encouraged to show up to the airport at least three hours in advance.
Malfunctioning baggage conveyor
The delays on Sunday were the result of a breakdown of the baggage conveyor Guðni tells turisti.is:
The root cause of the problems yesterday were mechanical problems and a malfunction in the airport baggage conveyor system which failed to handle the baggage, in addition to the security gate which was undermanned.
The long term solution is to expand the airport which cannot handle the current level of traffic, let alone further increases. Work is currently in progress to expand the check-in hall which is too small, but this will take time. The airport is scheduled for a major expansion, nearly doubling its capacity by March 2016. Further projects are on the drawing board.
Tourists trying to get to their outbound flights on Sunday faced long lines at Keflavík Airport. The lines snaked back and forth through the check-in hall which was packed to the door. Similar lines formed at the security gates.
Many travellers waited more than an hour in line at the check-in desk, followed by a half hour line at the security gate. Some of those standing in line were visibly frustrated as many feared they would miss their flights. However, all seventeen morning departures of Icelandair were delayed for as much as an hour to ensure all passengers got on board.
Arrive three hours before your flight to avoid problems
Guðni Sigurðsson, the spokesman of Isavia, which operates the airport, tells the local website turisti.is the explanation is simple: The terminal cannot handle the explosion of traffic. Work is underway to expand the check-in area, and the company is busy training and hiring new staff, but this takes time:
It is clear July will be difficult, and we can expect bottlenecks during peak hours in the morning and afternoon. We therefore encourage passengers to show up early, and we will also begin checking travellers in earlier to help spread the pressure better.
Passengers who are flying out between six and eight in the morning or three and five in the afternoon are encouraged to show up to the airport at least three hours in advance.
Malfunctioning baggage conveyor
The delays on Sunday were the result of a breakdown of the baggage conveyor Guðni tells turisti.is:
The root cause of the problems yesterday were mechanical problems and a malfunction in the airport baggage conveyor system which failed to handle the baggage, in addition to the security gate which was undermanned.
The long term solution is to expand the airport which cannot handle the current level of traffic, let alone further increases. Work is currently in progress to expand the check-in hall which is too small, but this will take time. The airport is scheduled for a major expansion, nearly doubling its capacity by March 2016. Further projects are on the drawing board.
