PLAY To Double Airbus Fleet

PLAY Airlines, an Iceland-based low-cost carrier, has unveiled several plans for its future operations, thanks to The Points Guy.

Over the next five years or, generally, before the decade ends, PLAY hopes to double its fleet size from 10 operational aircraft to 20.

The increased number of aircraft available to the airline will allow the company to reach new markets and boost its flights to in-demand locations.

PLAY relies solely on a fleet of Airbus A320neo family jets, and its commitment to this next-generation narrowbody means it has one of the youngest fleets in Europe.

The carrier utilises its fleet to fly towards several destinations around Europe and North America. PLAY focuses significantly on eyeing destinations near key cities but doesn’t see the airline always fly into the main city airport.

Flying into a location such as New York JFK will have high costs. While PLAY won’t rule out flying here one day, it instead looks towards Stewart International Airport.

SWF is located in the Southern Hudson Valley, around 60 miles from Manhattan, New York. While a modest airport, the location presents opportunities for PLAY to lower operational costs.

As more aircraft arrive, the airline has identified several key markets in Eastern Canada and the Eastern part of the United States that would be targeted. The arrival of more aircraft in the coming years and the continued stabilising of a relatively new business will make these new endeavours possible.

The Tough Winter Season

To ensure PLAY can survive long enough to expand its fleet by 2029 and add new destinations, it must learn how to navigate the winter period.

For companies like PLAY, the winter season often represents the business’s slowest period. In these few months, the airline can see traffic shrink by over 50% and make route cuts to preserve the business.

Ultimately, an airline like PLAY would aim to offer robust services year-round and see potentially weaker months without significant drops. Unfortunately, many airlines offering a similar business model have struggled to succeed in this regard.