During World War II, on May 10, 1940, British forces occupied Iceland. One of their first major projects was to construct a permanent airport—Reykjavík Airport—in Vatnsmýri, just south of the city centre. At the end of the war, Iceland gained full control over the airport, and it has since served as the country’s hub for domestic and medical flights.
For decades, there has been ongoing debate about whether an airport should remain in the middle of the capital, occupying one of Reykjavík’s most valuable building sites. Proposals have been made to relocate the airport to Löngusker in Skerjafjördur (between Álftanes and Seltjarnarnes), Hvassahraun (just south of Hafnarfjördur), or Hólmsheidi (above Grafarholt), but no final decision has been reached, leaving the airport in Vatnsmýri.
Now, trees are being felled in Öskjuhlíd—trees that airport staff planted nearly 70 years ago. One of the runways has been closed, even to medical flights, because trees at its end have grown too tall for safe take-off and landing. To ensure full safety, up to 1,400 trees need to be removed.
Icelandic Times visited Öskjuhlíd, home to what is likely the largest forest in the capital, with trees reaching nearly 20 meters high—right at the end of Reykjavík Airport’s runways.
Reykjavík, 17/02/2025: A7C R, A7R IV – FE 1.4/24mm GM, FE 1.8/135mm GM – Images & text: Páll Stefánsson
