No more playtime for Play – Play Airlines ceases operations

Icelandic operator PLAY has thrown in the towel and has ceased services.

The airline – Fly PLAY hf. – has ceased operations. As such, all flights operated by the airline have been cancelled.

The move comes after attempts to restructure both its network (by cutting back its US Network and focusing on Iceland as an origin and destination traffic), whilst moving aircraft onto its Maltessa registry to operate charter and ACMI traffic.

It seems all these efforts have been for nothing, with the airline now ceasing operations, not making money, suffering weak sales, blaming the media for its operations..

At cessation, Play operated six Airbus A320neo and four Airbus A321neo. Over 400 staff are impacted by the company halting operations.

In Quotes

In a statement by the company, they said:

The Board of Fly Play hf. has decided to cease operations. All of the company’s flights have been canceled. The company will work closely with authorities and employees to implement necessary measures to wind down operations.

There are several reasons for this decision, including: the company’s performance has long been weaker than expected, ticket sales have been poor in recent weeks and months following negative media coverage of its operations, and there has been discontent among some employees due to changes in the company’s strategy.

Great hopes had been pinned on the revised business model introduced last fall, which at the time was considered a source of considerable optimism. Unfortunately, it has now become clear that these changes cannot deliver results sufficient to overcome the company’s deep-rooted challenges that have built up over time. In hindsight, the new business plan should have been implemented earlier.  

In light of the above, PLAY is ceasing operations today. Thousands of passengers will need to reorganize their return journeys, around 400 people will lose their jobs, and the company’s partners will suffer losses.

On this occasion, the Board and management of PLAY emphasize that every effort was made to reach a different outcome. This decision is the most painful one imaginable in this situation and has only been taken because all other options were deemed exhausted. The Board sincerely apologizes to everyone negatively affected by this outcome.

Refunds and Onward Travel

With no money around, Play has some very weak options for those seeking a refund:

• If you purchased your ticket with a payment card, please contact your card issuer regarding a refund.
• If you booked your ticket as part of a package (flight + accommodation or services) through a travel agency in the EEA, please contact your travel agent for assistance.
• Some rights may also apply under EU Air Passenger regulations. In case of bankruptcy, claims should be directed to the appointed administrator.

For alternative travel, Play has suggested you look around with other carriers in the hope that rescue fares have been launched (although competitor Icelandair will not be launching rescue fares, and a brief search indicated no one else was either).

If you have travel insurance, you’ll have to see if this is suitable and you can claim against it.

For those in Iceland, the Icelandic Travel Authority has published guidance for Play customers, as well as your passenger rights.

Sometimes, this airport isn’t big enough for the both of us.

Play follows WOW Air (with some of the same people from it) in failing and leaving its passengers in the lurch.

Markets are hard things, especially when it’s tourist or transatlantic traffic, especially when you have a stop halfway across the Atlantic. There are only so many people who will do this.

For Play, money ran out as it attempted to change its course… and was far too late in doing so, impacting 400 staff members, as well as its passengers.

On the plus side, does anyone want to lease 10 Airbus A320neo family aircraft?

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