SSP expands presence in Iceland with the opening of five units at Keflavik Airport

Image: SSP/Keflavik Airport

SSP is opening five units in Iceland at Keflavik Airport (KEF), where the company made its debut in the Spring of 2023. Four of the five outlets feature brands that have been created by SSP, or were tailored by SSP specifically for the airport. The first of these new outlets welcomed its first customers on 4th November.

A large food court called Adalstrati Food Hall features two food offers and a bar. Called The Drinks Hub, the bar has been created specifically for KEF, and is the centrepiece of the area. It offers a wide range of drinks including leading Icelandic beer brand Gull, creating a real sense of place.

SSP brand Trattoria Tavolare is an Italian casual dining concept that has enjoyed great success at Oslo Airport. It serves an all-day menu, including a strong breakfast offering and classic pizzas from an authentic pizza oven, alongside a wide assortment of Italian specialities.

The third offer, Yuzu, is an Icelandic burger brand known for its “bold flavours and playful attitude” and its “quality and creativity”. It offers beef, vegan, and fried chicken burgers, combining Icelandic classics, modern smashburgers, and Asian-inspired flavours.

A new digital self-service ordering system, developed specifically for the food court, enables customers to order and pay for food from different kitchens and the bar in a single transaction. This improves the customer journey as the experience is as seamless as possible and waiting times can be reduced. It also dramatically increases back-of-house operational efficiency and decreases technical complexity.

A POINT kiosk, the third in Iceland, will offer drinks, snacks, hot food and every-day essentials to arriving passengers. The unit will be opened as a “retail café”, with seating and an extended range of products. POINT, originally created for the Nordic market by SSP in 2006, is a brand which has proved successful throughout SSP’s Nordic operations, where its convenience and one-stop shopping experience have been well-received by time-pressured passengers.

At the non-Schengen terminal, SSP will launch Keflavik Diner, an American-themed restaurant offering American-style food favourites.

To add to the sense of place, SSP will be working with selected local suppliers to refresh the offer regularly with new products and promotions. Ongoing investment in new technical platforms both within inventory management and staff planning will further increase efficiency and speed of service.

KEF is the largest airport in Iceland and served around 750,000 passengers in September 2025. It is used by 27 airlines, flying to a total of 77 destinations. The airport is currently undergoing a phased expansion plan that will eventually see it able to accommodate 15 million passengers a year. This includes the construction of a third runway, new terminal piers and an airport city.

Commenting on the new venture, Stian Lund, CEO SSP Nordics & Baltics said; “These openings are testament to the great achievements of our team here in Iceland and the fabulous relationship we’ve forged with our client, Isavia. We’re very pleased to be building on these firm foundations in this key region. By bringing brands that have already proven to be formidable performers in Iceland as well as the wider Nordics, we’re confident that this outstanding mix of concepts will delight passengers across a range of demographics.”

Guðmundur Daði Rúnarsson, Chief Commercial and Airport Development Officer at Keflavik Airport said; “At Keflavík Airport, we place great emphasis on offering passengers quality and variety, in cooperation with trusted and experienced partners. SSP has proven to be a strong and reliable collaborator, with deep expertise in operating food and beverage concepts in international travel environments. We are very pleased to expand our partnership and look forward to continuing to develop the airport experience together.”