Iceland’s PLAY is celebrating its first anniversary. The airline said that it is celebrating a year of success against a backdrop of “aviation turmoil”.
Its first flight to London Stansted launched in June 2021. The airline has since launched ticket sales to 26 destinations and is currently flying to 22.
To date, PLAY, has carried approximately 320,000 passengers, and by the summer of 2022 is expected to have 300 employees and increased its aircraft from three to six.
Celebrating the milestone, Birgir Jónsson, PLAY’s CEO, said “Launching an airline against the backdrop of COVID-19 and the emerging variants certainly had its challenges, but we have proven that with a knowledgeable team, concrete financial backing, and a measured expansion plan, the Icelandic-based budget hub and spoke model can thrive.
“In the last few months alone, we’ve seen positive growth in both passenger numbers and new routes, as we strive to meet travel demand, including the launch of 12 more routes from Iceland this summer.
“The future remains bright for PLAY, and we’re counting down to further UK launches as we take off from Liverpool this October, just in time for Iceland’s winter season.”
In the last year, PLAY has prioritised sustainability as a key mission, and the company was recognised for its 2021 Sustainability Report.
After a successful IPO, just two weeks after they took to the skies, PLAY and Nasdaq rang the stock market bell at 12,000 feet.
Two months after launch, PLAY applied for a US flying permit.
By December, PLAY announced plans for a Dublin route, commencing May ‘22.
Within six months, the airline announced new transatlantic services and grew its routes by 21, team by 150, and passenger numbers by 100,000.
For more information, please visit flyplay.com.
Travel Pursuit UK is a brand new travel trade news media. Click here for more exciting UK travel daily news, cruise news and travel news updates that you won’t want to miss!
