Reykjavík-based low-cost airline PLAY has unveiled its plans to launch transatlantic services next year.
The operator – which began flying in June – will operate flights linking London/Stansted with Baltimore/Washington and Boston/Logan from April 20, 2022, and May 11, 2022, respectively.
All services will go via the airline’s hub at Keflavík Airport. Tickets went on sale today for as little as £169 one way for a standard fare.
Birgir Jónsson, PLAY CEO, said: “Travellers around the world are hungry to venture to new destinations and we’re proud to expand PLAY’s service to the United States, offering both American and European travellers a new way to reach iconic destinations. With our reliable and affordable flights, travellers can enjoy their holiday destination rather than overspending on the flight to get there.”
Transatlantic links to Baltimore are expected to depart from Stansted four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with a 1 hour 25 minutes layover in Reykjavik. Flights to Boston will also depart four times a week, with a 1 hour 50 minutes stopover.
PLAY leap across the pond follows in the footsteps of another low-cost Icelandic airline called WOW air which collapsed in March 2019.
Jónsson – who was COO and deputy CEO at WOW air between September 2014 and October 2015, and CEO of Iceland Express – highlights that PLAY will apply the lessons learnt from the other venture.
Speaking to KeyAero in May, he said: “What I think happened in both those cases is that they grew too fast.
“They basically lose control of their growth and by doing that they lose control of their cost. I think we can learn a lot from that history, and we are trying to take our growth in a much more measured manner.”
