Icelandic carrier Play launched its first US route on 20 April, with a Keflavik to Washington Baltimore flight.

The inaugural service used the A321neo, although the A320neo will also be regularly used.  It connects with a service from Stansted and a number of European mainland airports.  Baltimore will be joined by three other US routes this year.  Boston begins 11 May, New York Stewart on 9 June, and Orlando International on 30 September. (See BTN 7 February Stansted to New York).

Play is in many ways a successor to another Icelandic low-cost airline, Wow, which failed in March 2019.  The airline has currently in service five Airbus A320 series aircraft with a further plane to be delivered later this year and three more in 2023.

On the same day as its maiden flight, Play launched an initial public offering (IPO), seeking to raise at least US$32m, after which its shares would be traded on Nasdaq First North Growth Market Iceland.  

Play trades on this Nasdaq at much the same as its opening price.

The IPO concluded on 25 June 2021 with an eight-fold oversubscription in the offering, with total subscriptions received US$274m.  

www.flyplay.com