Airline Ending All Flights To Logan Airport: Here's Why

BOSTON — Icelandic airline Play will end all flights to the U.S. this fall, the low-cost carrier announced this week.

Play's flight calendar shows that its last available flight out of Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is on Sept. 15.

The calendar says the last flight out of New York Stewart International Airport (SWF) is on Sept. 1, and the final service from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is on Oct. 24.

Those were the only three U.S. airports where Play operated.

The move comes amid changes in Play's business model. Rather than using Reykjavík as a connection between the U.S. and Europe, Play will now prioritize leisure travel from Iceland to warmer destinations.

"We look forward to continuing to foster competition in the aviation market with our red aircraft and Icelandic crews," Play CEO Einar Örn Ólafsson said in a Monday press release. "Our main goal remains to offer Icelanders affordable flights to the sun."

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Budget Flights To Iceland

The carrier offered discounted flights between the East Coast and mainland Europe with layovers in its Iceland hub at Keflavík Airport (KEF). Fares were comparatively low, but Play charged for add-ons like seat selection, checked bags and extra legroom.

This model targeted tourists heading to Reykjavík to explore Iceland's waterfalls, glaciers, volcanoes and fjords. It was also aimed at budget travelers looking for discounted fares across the Atlantic.

Travelers who wanted the best of both worlds could book a stayover of up to 10 days in Iceland while flying between the U.S. and mainland Europe. The stayover program had no extra costs and encouraged vacationers to get a taste of Iceland's northern lights or midnight sun in hopes that they'd return for a longer stay via Play in the future.

Play was founded in July 2019 by former executives of Wow Air, another Icelandic budget carrier that folded months earlier in March 2019.

Play leaned into Wow's business model of connecting the U.S. and Europe via Reykjavík.

Changing Business Plans

Two of Play's largest shareholders plan to make a takeover offer to buy all outstanding shares and delist the company from the stock exchange.

The takeover group is led by CEO Ólafsson and Vice Chairman of the Board Elías Skúli Skúlason.

The duo intends to continue as a budget airline operating out of Reykjavík, but the focus will now be on Icelanders leaving the country for warmer weather.

Play is also leasing out six of its 10 planes to SkyUp Malta Airlines to improve profitability. The remaining four aircraft will serve a route network that's getting a shakeup.

There will be fewer flights to Northern Europe with a focus on sunnier places further south.

Play will serve 16 leisure destinations from Iceland, including eight in Spain, four in Portugal, two in Morocco one in Croatia and one in Turkey.

Play will also operate under a Maltese Air Operator Certificate. The Icelandic AOC will be returned.

The airline will further increase its emphasis on its offices in Malta and Lithuania.

The acquiring entity will be funded with a minimum investment of $20 million, of which commitments have already been secured for more than one-third.

"This is primarily a plan for practical changes to the operations of the Icelandic airline PLAY," Ólafsson said. "We're focusing on the profitable aspects of the business—sun destination flights—and discontinuing those that have not yielded results."

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