Icelandic low-cost carrier PLAY just operated its first nonstop flight to the US — see the bare-bones Airbus A321neo flying the route

Taylor RainsApr 21, 2022, 23:38 IST

PLAY A321.PLAY

Icelandic low-cost carrier PLAY operated its first flight between Reykjavik and the US on Wednesday.
The airline uses A321neo for the transatlantic journey, featuring a bare-bones product with no amenities.

European low-cost carrier PLAY just launched its first-ever flight from the US to Iceland, officially pinning a new city to its international route map.

PLAY A321.PLAY

The airline, which is a successor to defunct WOW Air, took off from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at 7:47 PM on Wednesday and flew six hours to Keflavik Airport near Reykjavik, landing at 5:09 am the next morning.

PLAY ribbon cutting ceremony at Baltimore airport.PLAY

The airline, which is a successor to defunct WOW Air, took off from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at 7:47 PM on Wednesday and flew six hours to Keflavik Airport near Reykjavik, landing at 5:09 am the next morning.

"The transatlantic flights will be the main focus in PLAY´s operations and it was a huge project to establish a connection in a new continent." PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson said. "But now we see the fruits of our labor, a well-made, reliable and ambitious flight plan."

Birgir Jónsson with flight crew at Reykjavik airport before the inaugural flight.PLAY

Source: PLAY

"The transatlantic flights will be the main focus in PLAY´s operations and it was a huge project to establish a connection in a new continent." PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson said. "But now we see the fruits of our labor, a well-made, reliable and ambitious flight plan."

From Iceland, passengers can stay on the island or continue onto 22 other European destinations.

PLAY European route map from Iceland.PLAY

The flight followed PLAY's maiden flight from Iceland to the US that took off from Reykjavik on Wednesday at 11:34 am Eastern time and landed in Baltimore at 5:40 pm, according to FlightAware data.

PLAY flight crew boarding the flight to Baltimore.PLAY

Source: FlightAware

The flight followed PLAY's maiden flight from Iceland to the US that took off from Reykjavik on Wednesday at 11:34 am Eastern time and landed in Baltimore at 5:40 pm, according to FlightAware data.

A water salute welcomed the aircraft and its passengers to the US.

PLAY A321neo water salute in Baltimore.PLAY

PLAY used an Airbus A321neo narrowbody aircraft for the roundtrip flight, which has become popular on transatlantic journeys because it can connect low-demand city pairs at a lower operating cost.

PLAY aircraft at the gate.PLAY

PLAY used an Airbus A321neo narrowbody aircraft for the roundtrip flight, which has become popular on transatlantic journeys because it can connect low-demand city pairs at a lower operating cost.

The Boeing 737 MAX is a favorable alternative, with airlines like United and WestJet flying them between North America and Europe.

United 737 MAX 9.Philip Pilosian/Shutterstock

More airlines are choosing single-aisle jets for flights from North America to Europe — see the full evolution of jet-powered transatlantic flying

PLAY's A321neo is configured with 194 economy seats, most of which have 29-30 inches of pitch. Extra legroom seats are available for a higher fare and offer 32-35 inches, according to PLAY.

PLAY aircraft interior.PLAY

PLAY's A321neo is configured with 194 economy seats, most of which have 29-30 inches of pitch. Extra legroom seats are available for a higher fare and offer 32-35 inches, according to PLAY.

Onboard, passengers can expect a bare-bones product similar to Spirit or Frontier. The fare comes with a seat and a personal item, with other bags and snacks costing extra.

PLAY

Onboard, passengers can expect a bare-bones product similar to Spirit or Frontier. The fare comes with a seat and a personal item, with other bags and snacks costing extra.

The plane will not offer any inflight amenities like WiFi or entertainment, so travelers should come prepared with pre-downloaded movies, shows, or podcasts.

PLAY aircraft.PLAY

However, the seats onboard do recline. PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson told Insider that the customer experience is intended to be as "hassle-free" as possible.

PLAY

PLAY has adopted a casual crew uniform for its flights to capture its mission of "simplicity, fun, and playfulness," with flight attendants wearing t-shirts and sneakers.

PLAY flight attendant welcoming passengers.PLAY

PLAY has adopted a casual crew uniform for its flights to capture its mission of "simplicity, fun, and playfulness," with flight attendants wearing t-shirts and sneakers.

Baltimore is the first US market the airline will fly to, with Boston, Orlando, and New York's Stewart International Airport joining the route map later this year.

PLAY sign at Stewart International Airport ahead of the inaugural flight on June 9.Taylor Rains/Insider

A new European low-cost airline is launching its first route to Florida this fall with fares to Europe starting at $129 — here's what passengers can expect

The carrier will connect the four US cities to destinations in Europe via Iceland, like Berlin, Dublin, London, and Paris.

PLAY's full European route map from Iceland. Flights from Orlando will connect to Berlin, Dublin, Gothenburg, London, and Paris.PLAY

Jónsson explained that the company will remain competitive in the market by focusing on having the lowest fares, emphasizing PLAY's "Pay less, Play more!" motto.

PLAY

A nearly abandoned New York airport is getting nonstop flights to Europe for the first time since 2019 with fares starting at $109 one-way

"We believe the price is the biggest factor in our market," he told Insider. "To be honest, I think brands in airlines is diminishing, it's about convenience, timing, and price."

PLAY

"We believe the price is the biggest factor in our market," he told Insider. "To be honest, I think brands in airlines is diminishing, it's about convenience, timing, and price."

Wednesday marks the first time an Icelandic low-cost carrier has flown to the US since WOW Air ceased operations in 2019.

WOW Air.Vytautas Kielaitis/Shutterstock

WOW suffered from financial burdens independent of the pandemic, abruptly ceasing operations on March 28, 2019, and leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the world.

Board at Boston airport on March 28, 2019, showing cancelled WOW Air flight to Iceland.Angela Rowlings/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images

WOW suffered from financial burdens independent of the pandemic, abruptly ceasing operations on March 28, 2019, and leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the world.

While WOW failed, Jónsson says PLAY will prevail because it is focusing on the aspects of WOW that made it successful and abandoning its predecessor's high-cost practices, like flying widebody planes from Los Angeles to Europe and into Asia.

WOW Air Airbus A330.Lukas Wunderlich/Shutterstock

While WOW failed, Jónsson says PLAY will prevail because it is focusing on the aspects of WOW that made it successful and abandoning its predecessor's high-cost practices, like flying widebody planes from Los Angeles to Europe and into Asia.

"Our model is different because we are entering a widebody market with a narrowbody jet," he explained. "These routes really aren't long-haul and because we are using the geographic location of Iceland, we don't need a widebody jet between major cities, which is the market that's failed."

CEO Birgir Jónsson at Boston Logan International AirportPLAY

"Our model is different because we are entering a widebody market with a narrowbody jet," he explained. "These routes really aren't long-haul and because we are using the geographic location of Iceland, we don't need a widebody jet between major cities, which is the market that's failed."

"[WOW Air] completely changed their business model and that's where they lost control of the cost," Jónsson continued. "Play is using the best part of WOW's business model, which is one that has been successful in this market for decades."

PLAY

"[WOW Air] completely changed their business model and that's where they lost control of the cost," Jónsson continued. "Play is using the best part of WOW's business model, which is one that has been successful in this market for decades."

10 festival fashion looks from Coachella 2022 that missed the mark — sorry

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Icelandic low-cost carrier PLAY just operated its first nonstop flight to the US &mdash; see the bare-bones Airbus A321neo flying the route

European low-cost carrier PLAY just launched its first-ever flight from the US to Iceland, officially pinning a new city to its international route map.

The airline, which is a successor to defunct WOW Air, took off from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport at 7:47 PM on Wednesday and flew six hours to Keflavik Airport near Reykjavik, landing at 5:09 am the next morning.

"The transatlantic flights will be the main focus in PLAY´s operations and it was a huge project to establish a connection in a new continent." PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson said. "But now we see the fruits of our labor, a well-made, reliable and ambitious flight plan."

From Iceland, passengers can stay on the island or continue onto 22 other European destinations.

The flight followed PLAY's maiden flight from Iceland to the US that took off from Reykjavik on Wednesday at 11:34 am Eastern time and landed in Baltimore at 5:40 pm, according to FlightAware data.

A water salute welcomed the aircraft and its passengers to the US.

PLAY used an Airbus A321neo narrowbody aircraft for the roundtrip flight, which has become popular on transatlantic journeys because it can connect low-demand city pairs at a lower operating cost.

The Boeing 737 MAX is a favorable alternative, with airlines like United and WestJet flying them between North America and Europe.

PLAY's A321neo is configured with 194 economy seats, most of which have 29-30 inches of pitch. Extra legroom seats are available for a higher fare and offer 32-35 inches, according to PLAY.

Onboard, passengers can expect a bare-bones product similar to Spirit or Frontier. The fare comes with a seat and a personal item, with other bags and snacks costing extra.

The plane will not offer any inflight amenities like WiFi or entertainment, so travelers should come prepared with pre-downloaded movies, shows, or podcasts.

However, the seats onboard do recline. PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson told Insider that the customer experience is intended to be as "hassle-free" as possible.

PLAY has adopted a casual crew uniform for its flights to capture its mission of "simplicity, fun, and playfulness," with flight attendants wearing t-shirts and sneakers.

Baltimore is the first US market the airline will fly to, with Boston, Orlando, and New York's Stewart International Airport joining the route map later this year.

The carrier will connect the four US cities to destinations in Europe via Iceland, like Berlin, Dublin, London, and Paris.

Jónsson explained that the company will remain competitive in the market by focusing on having the lowest fares, emphasizing PLAY's "Pay less, Play more!" motto.

"We believe the price is the biggest factor in our market," he told Insider. "To be honest, I think brands in airlines is diminishing, it's about convenience, timing, and price."

Wednesday marks the first time an Icelandic low-cost carrier has flown to the US since WOW Air ceased operations in 2019.

WOW suffered from financial burdens independent of the pandemic, abruptly ceasing operations on March 28, 2019, and leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the world.

While WOW failed, Jónsson says PLAY will prevail because it is focusing on the aspects of WOW that made it successful and abandoning its predecessor's high-cost practices, like flying widebody planes from Los Angeles to Europe and into Asia.

"Our model is different because we are entering a widebody market with a narrowbody jet," he explained. "These routes really aren't long-haul and because we are using the geographic location of Iceland, we don't need a widebody jet between major cities, which is the market that's failed."

"[WOW Air] completely changed their business model and that's where they lost control of the cost," Jónsson continued. "Play is using the best part of WOW's business model, which is one that has been successful in this market for decades."

Icelandic low-cost carrier PLAY just operated its first nonstop flight to the US — see the bare-bones Airbus A321neo flying the route