May 31st 1928, Reykjavík Harbor. Seaplane Súlan D 463 getting ready for flight. Zimsen Harbor, Tryggvagata, Nordalsís-house, The Worker's Shelter and more in the background. (Photographer Magnús Ólafsson)

Reykjavík Harbor and Aviation

Reykjavíkurhöfn is the cradle of aviation in Iceland. The first planes to fly over the sea to Iceland in 1924 were so-called international global flights. They landed in the harbor and pulled up at Steinbryggjan (Stone Pier). Flugfélag Íslands airline was founded in 1928 and used seaplanes named Súlan, Veiðibjallan, and Álftin departing from Reykjavik harbor. Steinbryggjan and Zimsensbryggjan, together with the building Hafnarstræti 15, were a kind of Icelandic airport. Various foreign pilots made their way to Iceland and landed in Reykjavík Harbor.

May 31st 1928, Reykjavík Harbor. Seaplane Súlan D 463 getting ready for flight, aircraft of Flugfélag Íslands airline. A group of people are watching. (Photographer: Magnús Ólafsson)

Sources: Faxaflóahafnir SF & Reykjavík Museum of Photography