Low-Cost Airline PLAY, serving Logan Airport, plans to reduce its U.S. service in 2025
According to the airline, the changes will have "no or minimal effects" on passengers with existing bookings. Icelandic budget carrier PLAY announced it will scale back U.S. service in 2025 following “disappointing” profits in the North American market.
PLAY, launched in 2021 and operating from Logan Airport since 2022, is recognized for its affordable international flights, pay-as-you-go model, and frequent sales.
The airline serves five North American airports: Logan Airport, Washington Dulles, Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall, New York Stewart International, and John C. Munro Hamilton International near Toronto.
PLAY announced that it will reduce its destinations in North America and Northern Europe by mid-2025, shifting focus toward leisure markets in Southern Europe. When asked by Boston.com how these changes might affect Logan Airport travelers, a PLAY representative stated there are no further updates at this time.
The release states that "the airline's yields from its hub-and-spoke operations across the Atlantic have been disappointing, especially in 2024. The North American market has recently undergone significant changes, with a general increase in supply adversely impacting PLAY's financial results."
“Since PLAY's inception, we have witnessed changes in the market, and we believe that the via-route network is no longer as profitable as it once was,” said Einar Örn Ólafsson, CEO of PLAY, in a statement. “As a result, we have decided to adjust our business model, which will take effect around mid-2025.
PLAY continues to be the airline of choice for Icelanders, and we aim to increase our share in the local market. In short, we will concentrate on the aspects of our business that have proven successful and profitable—specifically, transporting passengers between Southern Europe and Iceland.” The airline also stated that the changes will have “no or minimal effects” on passengers who have already booked flights.