Low-Cost Carrier PLAY Is Coming to Canada

Iceland-based, low-cost airline PLAY, which is currently operating flights out of both Europe and the U.S., announced today that it would soon add service to and from Canada.

Starting on June 22, 2023, PLAY will kick off flights between John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and serve 15 different European destinations including London, Paris, Dublin, Liverpool, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Berlin, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Brussels, Athens, Copenhagen, Billund, Aarhus, and Aalborg.

PLAY offers low fares—it says its initial run of flights to 13 of those 26 European destinations will start at as low as $169—that do not include the typical amenities onboard. While a personal item is included, passengers must pay separately for a carry-on, checked bag, or in-flight meal.

PLAY’s pitch, like a lot of the current North American low-cost carriers, is that passengers can pay for the no-frills services and then allocate their budget to other experiences during their trip. It operates flights on new Airbus A321NEO and A320NEO aircraft.

“Travelers around the world are hungry to venture to new destinations and recent data shows that 73 percent of global travelers want vacations outside of their comfort zone,” said Birgir Jónsson, the CEO of PLAY.

“We’re proud to expand PLAY service to Canada with service in Hamilton, offering both Canadian and European travelers a new way to reach iconic destinations. With our reliable and affordable flights, travelers can enjoy their destination rather than overspending on the flight to get there.”

With the news, PLAY enters an increasingly competitive low-cost carrier network in Canada. Swoop, Air Canada Rouge, Sunwing, Flair, and Porter Airlines all already operate in Canada, along with Canada Jetlines, which just scored FAA approval to expand operations into the U.S.

PLAY, for its part, will exclusively serve the Canada-to-Europe market when it does officially launch later this year.