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Budget airlines scraps all flights to the US just three years after launching

Budget airlines scraps all flights to the US just three years after launching

Scottish Sun11-06-2025

Plus, Ryanair has warned that more of its flights to Spain could be scrapped next year
GROUNDED Budget airlines scraps all flights to the US just three years after launching
A BUDGET airline has confirmed all of its flights to America will be scrapped later this year.
PLAY Airlines was founded in 2019 and launched in 2021 as an ultra low cost carrier in Iceland.
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A budget airline has scrapped all of its flights to America due to not making any money
Credit: Alamy
The airline used Reykjavik as a layover destination for flights to North America, with Brits stopping over in the Icelandic city.
Flights were as little as £139 when travelling to places like New York.
Now, the airline is planning to get rid of its US flights altogether.
PLAY has removed all US flights from its schedule, as of the winter season.
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Read more on airlines
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The airline currently flies to Baltimore, Boston and New York Stewart - but these routes will disappear from September and October of this year.
Flights to Stewart International Airport (SWF) will end from September 1, followed by Boston Logan International Airport from September 15.
And flights to Baltimore/Washington International Airport will end on October 24.
Whilst the airline used to have even more of a network in North America such as New York and Orlando, these flights have already been scrapped.
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PLAY initially focused on European destinations, with routes to Alicante, Tenerife, London, Paris, Copenhagen, and Berlin.
This later expanded to North America in April 2022 and then later to Africa and Asia.
Flight cancelled or delayed? Top tips for handling travel disruptions
And it was only a couple months ago that the airline flew its first flight to Asia.
Despite changes, the airline's hub will remain in Keflavik.
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The future for the airline also looks as if it may go private, with both the company's CEO and Vice Chairman supporting this.
Since going public, the airline's stock is down 97 per cent.
The airline does plan to continue to have 10 aircraft in its fleet, but to start using them differently.
Four of the planes would fly out of Keflavik, specifically to leisure destinations with high demand.
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Sun Travel has contacted PLAY for comment.
Just last year, another budget airline scrapped one of its cheap flights to the US - after just three years.
Budget airline JetBlue confirmed that they would be stopping the London Gatwick to New York route from this summer.
The route launched back in 2021 and the airline already reduced the route in August 2024.
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The airline said the end of the route was to "better align with anticipated demand".
Plus, Ryanair has warned that more of its flights to Spain could be scrapped next year.

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