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Icelandic low-cost carrier Fly Play hf., known simply as PLAY, announced today that it will cease all operations immediately while canceling all scheduled flights. The decision comes after months of financial struggles, declining ticket sales, and internal challenges that the company was unable to overcome despite a recent attempt to revamp its business model.
Thousands of passengers are now left stranded and will need to scramble to fix their travel plans. The sudden shutdown also means approximately 400 employees will lose their jobs, while the airline’s partners and suppliers are expected to face significant financial losses. The company stated it will work closely with Icelandic authorities to implement the necessary steps for an orderly wind-down of operations. PLAY’s fleet consists of six Airbus A320neo and four Airbus A321neo aircraft.
In its announcement, the Board and management emphasized that they had explored every possible alternative before deciding to shut down. They described the move as “the most painful decision imaginable,” apologizing to customers, employees, and partners affected by the collapse.
PLAY’s closure marks the end of a brief but turbulent chapter in Iceland’s aviation industry, and it leaves uncertainty for the thousands of travelers who had relied on the airline’s transatlantic and European services.
Anthony’s Take: The low-cost model is crumbling in the United States and it appears that this is not just a domestic issue. Operating costs, passengers preferences, and more have all taken their toll. RIP, PLAY.
(Featured Image Credit: PLAY.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
