PLAY Airlines Kicks Off Direct Flights Between Athens and Iceland

PLAY aircraft at Athens International Airport (AIA). Photo source: PLAY

Low-cost airline PLAY on Tuesday inaugurated its first direct connection between Athens and Reykjavík, Iceland.

Starting from this month, the Icelandic airline will operate two weekly flights from Athens to Iceland, with departures scheduled for Saturdays and Tuesdays, until the first week of January 2024.

A transatlantic carrier bridging Europe and North America, PLAY operates from its hub at Keflavik Airport in Iceland.

Passengers traveling on PLAY from Athens International Airport (AIA) to Iceland can connect to four major US cities: New York, Boston, Washington DC, and Baltimore. Additionally, passengers can seamlessly connect to Toronto, Canada, via Iceland.

Since its maiden flight in June 2021, PLAY has rapidly expanded its fleet from three Airbus A320neo aircraft to six in 2022. In 2023, the airline plans to operate a total of 10 Airbus A320/321neo aircraft.

Members of PLAY’s cabin crew with AIA’s mascot Filos the Athenian. Photo source: PLAY

“With our expanding fleet and commitment to exceptional customer service, PLAY is poised to revolutionize transatlantic travel,” said PLAY Airlines CEO Birgir Jónsson, adding that PLAY aims to provide affordable, convenient, and unforgettable journeys for its passengers.

“We look forward to welcoming travelers aboard our flights and enabling seamless connections between Athens, Iceland and North America,” he added.

This is the first time Athens has a direct connection to Iceland and from there to destinations in the US and Canada.

On her part, Athens International Airport (AIA) Communications & Marketing Director Ioanna Papadopoulou said the arrival of PLAY to the Athens Airport family “is truly a great development”, both for the connectivity of Athens and for passengers.

“We confirm our support to our airline partner and wish the airline every success, safe and full flights and continuous and dynamic growth,” she said.

PLAY has a comprehensive network encompassing nearly 40 destinations and has flown over one million passengers since its inception. In 2022, the airline achieved an outstanding 87 percent on-time performance rate.