Sauðanes Airport

The primary reason for closure was replacement and modernization. The old Sauðanes airstrip was a basic, short, unpaved gravel runway situated in a challenging location very close to the sea. It was limited in the types of aircraft it could handle and was susceptible to weather-related operational issues. It was replaced by the new Þórshöfn Airport, which features a longer, paved runway, allowing for more reliable, all-weather service with larger and more modern aircraft (such as the Fokker 50 and Dash 8 used at the time).

The site is completely abandoned and defunct as an airport. The outline of the former gravel runway is still clearly visible on satellite imagery, but it is unmaintained, overgrown with grass and vegetation, and is slowly being reclaimed by the surrounding natural landscape. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure, such as buildings or lighting, on the site. It is essentially an open, unused strip of land near the historic Sauðanes farm and church.

Sauðanes Airport was the original air link for the remote town of Þórshöfn and the surrounding Langanes peninsula. For decades, it served as a vital lifeline, breaking the region's significant isolation from the rest of Iceland, especially during winter months. The airport handled scheduled domestic passenger flights, mail delivery, medical evacuations (medevac), and essential cargo. Operations were typically conducted by Flugfélag Íslands (a predecessor to today's Air Iceland Connect/Icelandair) using rugged propeller aircraft, like the Douglas DC-3, which were well-suited for gravel strips. Its existence was crucial for the social and economic stability of the community before the modern road system was fully developed.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Sauðanes Airport. The community of Þórshöfn is adequately and more safely served by the modern Þórshöfn Airport (BITH), which is located just a few kilometers to the southwest. The old site is considered permanently closed and obsolete for any aviation purposes.