Flights not affected by volcanic activity
Last updated: June 24, 2024
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has announced that the most recent volcanic activity near Grindavík in Southwest Iceland has stopped.
The activity began on May 29, 2024. It lasted 24 days and and was the fifth eruption since December 2023 occuring in the Sundhnúksgígar crater row area, and the eighth eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since March 2021.
The activity did not disrupt air travel to and from Iceland. None of the recent eruptions have affected flight schedules or operations at Keflavík airport.
About the recent volcanic activity
The experts from the Icelandic Meteorological Office have put together a great short video to explain in simple terms what's happening on the Reykjanes peninsula, and why it's safe to travel to Iceland.
Location of the activity
The most recent volcanic activity is the eighth since December 2023. All events have been localized to the Grindavík area. The most recent activity is localized to the same area as in the March-May 2024 eruption, close to the Sundhnúksgígar crater row.
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Our preparedness
Iceland is a volcanic island, with many active volcano systems. Eruptions and earthquakes are a part of our DNA, and we Icelanders are always well prepared for volcanic events. The country’s incredible nature has given us excellent training and expertise to deal with unique situations.
In fact, we’ve now experienced eight eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula over the last four years:
- The first three, at Fagradalsfjall in 2021, 2022 and July 2023, were so-called ‘tourist eruptions’ that thousands of locals and tourists witnessed and enjoyed.
- The fourth eruption was at the Sundhnúksgígar crater row on December 18, 2023, and lava flow stopped within 72 hours.
- The fifth eruption was close to the town of Grindavík, beginning on January 14, 2024. The seismic activity in the area, coupled with the January eruption, has had a devastating effect on this small community.
- The sixth eruption began on February 8, close to the site of the fourth eruption. The lava flow stopped within 48 hours.
- The seventh eruption began on March 16 in the same area as the eruption in February and December. It lasted longer than its predecessors and ended on May 9.
- The eighth eruption began on May 29 in the Sundhnúksgígar crater row and was declared over on June 22 after 24 days.
None of the recent eruptions affected flight schedules or operations at Keflavík airport.
Did you know that there are currently over 40 volcanoes erupting around the globe without significantly disrupting air traffic?
Visiting volcanic areas
The site of the Fagradalsfjall eruptions (in 2021, 2022 and July 2023) is once again open to visitors. Note: Hiking in the area of the most recent eruptions is strictly forbidden.
You can see detailed information about hiking trails around Fagradalsfjall, as well as accessible viewpoints for the current eruption, on the Visit Reykjanes website.
Banner photo: View of the lava fields surrounding the Fagradalsfjall volcano.
Read more
For more information on the situation, we recommend the following sites:
Safetravel – general information on safety in the area
Icelandic Road Authority – road closures in the Southwest
Icelandic Meteorological Office – detailed updates from experts
Visit Reykjanes – news for the region
RÚV – live blog in English from the national broadcaster
mbl.is – links to livestreams from the Grindavík area
Government of Iceland – official information from the Icelandic government
Air quality – check the air quality across the country
