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Icelandic low-cost airline PLAY will end its final route to the United States on October 24, marking a complete withdrawal from the North American market. The last flight will operate between Keflavik and Baltimore, which was also the carrier's first US destination when it launched service in April 2022.
PLAY has described its US operations as costly and unprofitable due to high competition, seasonal demand, and excess capacity. The company stated that yields did not meet expectations. This decision is part of a broader strategy shift for PLAY, which will now focus on point-to-point leisure routes in Southern Europe that have shown stronger performance. Additionally, PLAY plans to expand aircraft leasing and utilize its Maltese air operator's certificate for further opportunities independently or through partnerships.
The airline began reducing its US presence in 2024 by cutting frequencies and discontinuing other routes. Flights between Keflavik and Washington Dulles ended in December 2024. Service to Stewart International Airport in New York ceased in September 2025; Stewart no longer offers any European flights following PLAY’s exit. In Boston, where PLAY competed directly with Icelandair and saw significant growth in overall European activity at the airport, flights also ended this September.
