- First flight departs from Glasgow International Airport on 26 May 2023
- Tickets start at £69 to Keflavik, Iceland and £169 to the USA and Canada
- Flights will operate four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)
Iceland’s leading low-cost airline, PLAY, has today (7 March 2023) announced its newest route between Glasgow International and Iceland’s Keflavik airport, marking the airline’s first Scottish route.
Ticket sales begin today (7 March 2023) at www.flyplay.com, with the first flight departing on 26 May 2023. Travellers will be able to fly direct to Keflavik to explore Iceland’s lagoons and glaciers, or choose to connect to PLAY’s four US destinations (New York Stewart, Boston, Baltimore/Washington, Washington Dulles) and to Toronto, Canada from June 2023.
Flights between Glasgow International and Keflavik, Iceland start at just £69 per person one way, with US flights starting at £169 per person one way.
PLAY will operate four flights per week over the summer months (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) but Wednesdays will drop off from autumn 2023. The airline will operate an Airbus A320neo (180 seats), with the flight time between Iceland and Glasgow just two hours and 25 minutes.
Birgir Jónsson, PLAY CEO, said: “Everyone at PLAY is excited to welcome passengers from Glasgow to Iceland and onwards. In January 2023, Brits made up the largest percentage of tourists to Iceland, and since we launched our UK routes at London Stansted and Liverpool John Lennon our UK destinations have consistently topped the charts of our busiest flights. Our Glasgow route is perfectly placed to create fill the gap in demand Scottish tourists to visit Iceland without the price tag.
This route will also be a welcome addition for travellers from Glasgow to the big apple. New York represents the largest market in the US from Glasgow, and with PLAY, travellers will be able to spend less on their flights and PLAY more in the city!”
The news of this new route comes as PLAY announces record sales, 76.9% Load Factor and substantial increase in revenue and yields.
In February 2023, PLAY carried 63,949 passengers and the load factor was 76.9%. 31% of passengers were traveling from Iceland, 37% were traveling to Iceland, and 32% were connecting passengers (VIA). In February, 84.2% of PLAY’s flights arrived on schedule.
PLAY’s routes to and from Paris and London had an impressive load factor of over 90% in February, and as before its destinations in Spain and the Canary Islands were also very strong. The load factor for the full year of 2023 is now more than double compared to the same period last year, confirming the very positive trend in forward bookings and strengthening PLAY’s positive view the year.
February was another record sales month for PLAY. The revenue generated during the respective months of January and February 2023 is more than double the average sold revenue per month in 2022, demonstrating a significant increase in demand in the market and a sign that our increased capacity is in line with market demand.
Learn more about PLAY or book a flight at www.flyplay.com.
-Ends-
Notes to Editors:
Birgir Jónsson, CEO of PLAY, is available for interview or comment upon request.
For further press information, please contact:
Arabella Halfhide | Hannah Carlisle | Chloe Hernandez
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)7376 418927
E: [email protected]
About PLAY
PLAY is a low-cost airline operating flights between Iceland and Europe, and North America as of 2023. Founded in Reykjavík in 2019 by a management team with significant experience in the aviation industry, the company operates flights on new Airbus A321NEO and A320NEO aircraft, offering streamlined, no-frills service that allows travelers to pay less and “play more.” Safety comes first for PLAY. On-time performance, simplicity, happiness and low prices are the airline’s core principles.
The airline seeks to enable passengers to see the world, but not without considering its environmental impact. PLAY is being developed with sustainability initiatives and benchmarks in place to track and reduce fuel consumption, offset carbon emissions, and limit waste. Learn more or book a flight at www.flyplay.com.
