Flights to Longyearbyen
Which airport to land at, how far each is from the centre, and where the routes go. Live fares are booked here.
Longyearbyen is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Svalbard Airport, Longyear (LYR), 5 km (3 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 7,608 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Svalbard Airport, Longyear (regional) | LYR | 5 km (3 mi) | 7,608 ft | 88 ft |
Runway length is a practical tell: at 7,608 ft, LYR handles short and medium-haul aircraft, so a long-haul trip will connect somewhere else first. The airport sits at 88 ft; that is low enough that altitude never restricts departures.
Book a flight to Longyearbyen
Our airline partner is activating live fares for this site; the search below opens the moment that is done. Hotels can be booked now.
Routes to and from Longyearbyen
Straight-line distance and an estimated block time for the city pairs people search for most. Each opens a page with both ends’ airports, the time-zone shift and what changes on arrival.
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longyearbyen to Murmansk | Russia | 1,155 km (718 mi) | about 2 h 14 min |
| Longyearbyen to Shanghai | China | 6,963 km (4,327 mi) | about 9 h 41 min |
| Longyearbyen to Chongqing | China | 6,817 km (4,236 mi) | about 9 h 29 min |
| Longyearbyen to Chengdu | China | 6,641 km (4,127 mi) | about 9 h 16 min |
| Longyearbyen to Beijing | China | 5,917 km (3,677 mi) | about 8 h 20 min |
| Longyearbyen to Guangzhou | China | 7,665 km (4,763 mi) | about 10 h 35 min |
| Longyearbyen to Shenzhen | China | 7,745 km (4,812 mi) | about 10 h 41 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Common questions
Which airport should I fly into for Longyearbyen?
Svalbard Airport, Longyear (LYR) is the closest large airport at 5 km (3 mi). It is the only one with scheduled flights within 100 km.
How far is LYR from Longyearbyen city centre?
5 km (3 mi) in a straight line; the road or rail distance is somewhat longer.
Can I book flights to Longyearbyen on this site?
Very soon: our airline partner is switching live fares on for this site. Hotels can be booked now.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.