Tag Archives: Play

PLAY announces its first routes to the United States

PLAY has announced its first routes to the United States which will permit service to Europe via Keflavik:

PLAY, a low-cost airline operating flights between Iceland and Europe, announced today service in the United States, with the first flights to Europe taking off in spring 2022.

Starting today, travelers can book tickets from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to 22 European destinations including London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Brussels, Stavanger, Trondheim, Gothenburg, and more.

Flight service from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) will begin on April 20, 2022, and service from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) will begin on May 11, 2022.

Transportation costs and associated fees represents 54% of spending on trips to international destinations for American passengers. PLAY offers a streamlined, no-frills service without costly features such as magazines, Wi-Fi, and entertainment, allowing travelers to pay less and “play more.” Rather than spending on travel extras, PLAY passengers can instead allocate their budget on the meaningful experiences, dining, and excursions that make a trip memorable — or even add a stop to another destination along the way.

To date, PLAY has flown more than 87,500 passengers across Europe with an on-time arrival rate over 96%.

PLAY signs a lease for two new Airbus A320neo aircraft

PLAY has signed an agreement with China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (CALC), a major international aircraft lessor for two new A320neo aircraft. The aircraft will be delivered to PLAY next week and will be fitted and painted as per PLAY’s specifications. The aircraft will arrive in Iceland in March 2022 in time for the change to a hub-and-spoke business model. The aircraft are new and will be delivered directly from Airbus.

These are the aircraft PLAY previously announced it had signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for.

In September, PLAY signed an agreement with GECAS, a major international aircraft lessor for three A320neo and one A321NX narrowbody aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between autumn 2022 and spring 2023.

With these agreements, PLAY is taking advantage of favorable terms in the current market, securing brand-new aircraft and locking in long-term cost savings and operational efficiency.

PLAY to add more European destinations

PLAY (Keflavik, Iceland) made this announcement:

96.2% on-time arrivals in September 2021
Load factor was 52.1%
Ticket sales increased again in September after being affected by COVID-19 pandemic this summer
The load factor is expected to rise for the full month of October, the fourth month in a row.

In September, PLAY carried 15,223 passengers. The load factor was 52.1%, compared to 46% in August. The improved load factor reflects recovering demand both to and from Iceland. During the month there was a decline in the number of passengers who changed their bookings due to COVID-19. This reflects the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in Iceland, growing consumer confidence and the relaxation of travel restrictions in Iceland and abroad. Inbound demand has also been rising as PLAY becomes a better known brand in markets outside of Iceland and COVID-19 travel restrictions are relaxed. This positive demand trend continues into October and the coming months look very promising, the load factor is expected to rise for the full month of October, the fourth month in a row.

New Cities To Be Added and Largest Hiring Yet

In September, PLAY announced a recruitment drive to fill 100 cabin crew and 50 flight crew positions to support the airline’s growth for 2022. This will double the number of employees employed by the company.

Due to the positive demand trends outlined above, PLAY has added Amsterdam as a new destination to its winter schedule. The first flight to Amsterdam will be on December 3, with flights initially operating Mondays and Fridays and Thursdays and Sundays to be added from December 16.

The airline has also announced three new destinations in Scandinavia for next summer: Stavanger and Trondheim in Norway (May 2022) and Gothenburg in Sweden (May 20, 2022, twice-weekly).

PLAY adds Amsterdam to its winter schedule

PLAY (Keflavik) has added Amsterdam to its winter schedule.

Flights will operate twice a week, Mondays and Fridays.

The inaugural flight to Amsterdam will be on December 3, 2021.

This addition to the flight schedule is due to increasing demand for flights to/from Iceland in line with the improving status of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PLAY to lease four Airbus neo aircraft from GECAS

GECAS has reached an agreement to provide three A320neo and one A321NX narrow body aircraft from its skyline to PLAY, the newly operating Icelandic low-cost airline. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered between autumn 2022 and spring 2023

Based in Reykjavík’s Keflavík International Airport and commencing operations in June of this year, PLAY’s current fleet of three A321neo connects passengers to ten locations across Europe. As Iceland offers a unique geographic location for transatlantic travel, these new technology narrow bodies offer greater capability to make connections within North America as well.

PLAY applies for permit to fly to the USA

PLAY has applied for a permit and exemption authority with the US Department of Transportation to launch services to the United States in 2022.

The application was filed on August 20 and requests permission to operate scheduled and charter services from and via Iceland. PLAY looks forward to welcoming passengers traveling to and from the USA on board our A321 family fleet.

PLAY launches its first flight

Play Airlines (PLAY) today (June 24) launched its first route from Keflavik to London (Stansted).

The route is operated four days a week.

Photos: by the airline and Stansted Airport.

Route Map:

Birgir Jónsson, CEO

Birgir has extensive experience in international management and operations. He was Ossur’s Regional Director in Asia, based in Hong Kong, CEO of Iceland Express and later Deputy CEO of WOW air. He lived and worked in Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary, where he was CEO of Infopress Group, one of the largest printing companies in Eastern Europe. He was CEO of Iceland Post and has also been involved in many projects in the field of restructuring and transformation across a diverse range of industries.

Birgir holds an MBA from the University of Westminster in London and a BA (Hons) from the University of the Arts London.

PLAY announces 7 destinations in Europe

PLAY (Keflavik) has announced its first routes from Iceland on social media:

We are flying to Iceland from 7 destinations in Europe. Alicante, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Paris and Tenerife.

PLAY secures its AOC and first aircraft, announces its first route

PLAY is a new low-cost airline that is planning to operate flights between Keflavik, Iceland and Europe and later North America.

The upstart announced on social media it has acquired its AOC and first Airbus A321neo (TF-AEW, msn 8008):

The company also announced its first route. The first route will be to London’s Stansted Airport starting on June 23, 2021.

PLAY aims to fill the WOW Air void in Iceland, raises $35 million

PLAY (Keflavik) is a new prospective low-cost carrier based in Iceland.

The company has raised $35 million through a private share offering.

PLAY is a new low-cost airline proposing to operate flights between Iceland, Europe and North America.

According to the new company, “PLAY will offer globetrotters low-cost flights and a safe and pleasant journey in our new and comfortable Airbus aircraft.”