Travel and Accommodation

Travelling to Ny-Ålesund is relatively simple. There are regular flights from the UK to Longyearbyen, with flights twice a week on to Ny-Ålesund. Details can be found in the sections below:

UK to Longyearbyen flights:

In order to meet the Lufttransport flight connections from Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund (and on the return), an overnight stay en-route (in Oslo or Longyearbyen) is usually required. Flights from Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund operate on Mondays and Thursdays. Flight times are available from the Kings Bay website. Please note that these are subject to change at short notice.

Booking flights from the UK (or from your country of departure) to Longyearbyen is your responsibility.

Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund flights:

Lufttransport a/s operates a Dornier with seats for up to 16 passengers. If a group consists of eight or more individuals, it is likely that you will need to charter a flight. Please contact the Station Manager for further information about chartering flights from Longyearbyen to Ny-Ålesund.

You will need to book Lufttransport flights through the Research In Svalbard (RiS) Website –  do not contact Lufttransport or Kings Bay a/s direct.  Your booking requests will go straight to the Station Manager who will check and approve them.  Please inform the Station Manager if you intend to travel with more than 20 kg of luggage. Kings Bay a/s or the Station Manager will send you your flight confirmation document.

Lufttransport flight costs are paid to Kings Bay a/s by credit card or invoice at the end of your stay.

Accommodation in Ny-Ålesund

The UK Arctic Station has seven single bedrooms. In addition there are bedrooms in Kings Bay a/s (KB) accommodation blocks which are available to scientists and other visitors. Please see the 2023 Kings Bay price list for further details.

You will need to book your accommodation in Ny-Ålesund  through the Research in Svalbard website.  Every effort will be made to provide you with one of the NERC bedrooms, however, if there is no availability, you will be allocated a room by Kings Bay. Priority is given to projects funded by NERC.

Those allocated a bedroom in the UK Arctic station pay for meals only. Meals and Kings Bay accommodation can be paid by credit card or invoice at the end of your stay.

Meals for all personnel in Ny-Ålesund are provided in the Kings Bay dining room. Sandwiches can be made to take into the field. The kitchen staff will provide food for groups of people who plan to live in a field hut for a short period.