Icelandic discount carrier Play will operate its final U.S. flight on Oct. 24.
Play, an Icelandic low-cost airline that launched U.S. operations in April 2022, is set to conclude its services to the United States. By October 24, the airline will be down to its last U.S. route, connecting Baltimore to Reykjavik. The Boston-Reykjavik route will cease operations on September 15, and flights from Reykjavik to New York Stewart, located about 70 miles north of Manhattan, will end on September 1, according to current data from Cirium.
Play CEO Einar Orn Olafsson. Photo Credit: Play
Play’s U.S. operations reached their peak during the summers of 2023 and 2024, featuring daily flights on three routes along with service to Washington Dulles from Reykjavik. The airline marketed these routes not only for direct passenger travel but also as budget-friendly options for one-stop connections to major destinations in northern Europe. However, the airline announced a reduction in its North American service and northern European routes last fall, signaling a strategic shift towards more lucrative destinations in southern Europe. Presently, Play operates just 76 U.S. frequencies in total this month, which is a significant decrease of one-third compared to the previous year. Adding to its service adjustments, Play has permanently discontinued its flights to Hamilton, Ontario, which was its only Canadian route and had been serviced up to daily.
In early June, Play indicated that substantial changes would be necessary, leading to the suspension of U.S. flight services and a reduction of northern European destinations. With these shifts, CEO Einar Orn Olafsson along with board vice chairman Elias Skuli Skulason are considering an acquisition of the airline’s shares. This move aims to privatize the airline and remove it from the Nasdaq Nordic exchange.
As part of its restructuring strategy, Play is planning to lease out six of its Airbus narrowbody aircraft. The remaining four will be utilized primarily for flights connecting Iceland with southern Europe.
