Budget carrier Play to start Glasgow flights this summer

Icelandic budget carrier Play is adding Glasgow to its UK network.

The airline makes its debut in Scotland with flights starting on May 26 to Keflavik with onward transatlantic connections to New York Stewart, Boston, Baltimore/Washington, Washington Dulles, plus Toronto from June.

Fares between Glasgow International airport and Keflavik start at £69 one way, with flights to North America leading in at £169.

Four flights a week will run during the summer, reducing to three a week in the autumn.

The airline will operate a 180-seat Airbus A320neo on the new route, with a flight time of two hours and 25 minutes.

Play carried 63,949 passengers in February with a load factor  of 76.9%. 

The revenue generated in January and February was more than double the average sold revenue per month in 2022.

Chief executive Birgir Jonsson 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.”