Akureyri is a town located in the northern part of Iceland; it is the second largest urban area after Reykjavík. As of the 2006 census, the town had a total population of 16,650.
Akureyri is governed by the town council, directly elected by anyone over 18 and registered with domicile in the town. The council has 11 members that are elected for four-year terms. The mayor is appointed by the council; usually one of the council members is chosen but they may also appoint a mayor who is not a member of the council.
The town has an airport that is mostly used for domestic flights but occasionally international flights use the airport as well. Air Iceland flies several times a day to Reykjavik, but there are also flights to Grimsey, Vopnafjörður, Þórshöfn and Ísafjörður. Scheduled flights from Akureyri to Copenhagen began on May 30 2006, operated by Iceland Express. A further regular service to London is due to begin in October 2006. The port of Akureyri is a vital structure for the town which largely bases its livelihood on fisheries. It is the site of a few large fish processing plants and trawlers come there to unload. The port is also very important for tourism as many cruise ships stop in Akureyri during the summer months. The port is important for freight handling.
