Vestmannaeyjar Airport serves the Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) archipelago off the southern coast of Iceland. The airport provides a vital air link between the islands and the mainland, complementing the ferry service that connects the islands to Landeyjahöfn on the Icelandic coast. The airport is located on Heimaey, the largest and only inhabited island of the archipelago, which is known for the dramatic 1973 Eldfell volcanic eruption that nearly buried the island's harbour. Air travel is especially important during periods of rough seas when ferry services may be suspended. Operations at Vestmannaeyjar are relatively small-scale, reflecting the modest population of the islands, which numbers only a few thousand residents. The airport handles primarily domestic scheduled services and some charter traffic.