The member of Icelandic parliament Alþingi from Pirate party Smári McCarthy argues against the necessity of referendum regarding the future of the airport in Reykjavik downtown (ICAO: BIRK). According to him, a substitute should appear before the closure of existed airport will happen.
He adds that there are contracts in the airport that need to be honoured, and the airport “is not going anywhere” until a substitute of the same quality will appear, which will fulfil all roles of Reykjavík Airport for ambulance flights, training flights, civil flights, private flights, sightseeing flights and the airbase of the Coast Guard, as well an acceptable alternate for Keflavík.
“Reykjavík Domestic Airport, which fulfils the aforementioned seven roles, is important. It does not matter where exactly it is, as long as it is usable and serves his roles. If people want him out of Vatnsmýri in Reykjavik, they need to find another place and start building. Then others will stop worrying about losing their current airport. So the airport not going anywhere from Reykjavik until someone else arrives”, says Smári McCarthy.
Last week half of the MPs from the Independence Party and the Progressive Party, the majority of the MPs from the Center Party, both MPs from the People’s Party and one MP from the Left-Green Party have submitted a parliamentary resolution on a referendum on the future of Reykjavík airport (ICAO: BIRK). The main question on the referendum will be if the airport in the capital’s downtown should continue to exist.
There are two main groups among citizens. First think that the airport is atavism from WWII past and the territory should be renovated. Reals estate companies support them, building plans for creating new apartments in the area. Some people, who live near the airport perimeter are annoyed by the noise of small aeroplanes, which can be met often when the weather is good enough for VFR flights.
Second believe that the airport is a vital transportation hub for all Icelanders, both capital citizens and visitors from other parts of the island. The airport in Reykjavik also is important for emergency ambulance flights, considering the main state hospital Landspitalli is situated just on across the road from the aerodrome.
