Icelandic low-cost airline, PLAY, has announced the launch of its newest route between Glasgow International and Iceland’s Keflavik airport, marking the airline’s first Scottish route.
The first flight departs on 26 May. Travellers will be able to fly direct to Keflavik 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.
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.
