Icelandic low-cost airline PLAY marked a milestone on Friday with its inaugural flight to Athens, Greece. The flight is the first time in history that regularly scheduled direct flights have connected Iceland and the capital of Greece.
Despite only performing one flight to and from Athens, the route has experienced high demand, according to PLAY. As a result, the airline decided to extend the flight’s schedule for another seven months.
Hello, Athens!
The flight, PLAY 590 (FPY590), departed from Keflavík Airport on Friday at 06:25. Operated by an Airbus A320neo, the aircraft climbed to a cruising altitude of 31,000, 35,000 and 37,000 feet. Flying at a speed of 475 miles per hour, the plane headed southeast toward Greece. After a five-hour and 35-minute journey, the aircraft landed at Athens International Airport at 15:00 local time, according to data FlightAware.
Photo: Airbus
PLAY’s CEO, Birgir Jonsson, spoke about the inaugural flight.
“We are thrilled to witness the culmination of our tireless efforts as we successfully launch the first-ever direct scheduled flights between Iceland and Athens. This significant milestone in Icelandic aviation history is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team.”
According to Greek Travel Pages, PLAY will operate flights to Athens twice weekly. The return flight, FYP591, departed from Athens on Saturday at 10:27. The A320neo cruised at 38,000 feet and arrived back in Keflavik at 13:13 local time. The return journey was slightly longer, with a total flight time of five hours and 46 minutes.
Meeting the low-cost demand
When the airline announced the service last year, Jonsson said the goal was to introduce low fares to Greece, just as to its other destinations.
“Where we have begun our services, the airfare prices have dropped so that is our goal also for Greece, to come in with a bang and lower the cost of flying to Iceland,” the CEO explained to Greek Travel Pages.
There is no doubt that the goal was met, as PLAY shared on Friday that demand for the flights has skyrocketed, exceeding expectations since tickets first went on sale. In response, the airline will prolong its schedule until next year.
“The overwhelming demand for this long-awaited route has convinced us to extend our Athens schedule until January 2024, ensuring that more travelers can experience the wonders of Athens,” Jonsson said.
Further connectivity
According to Greek Travel Pages, PLAY previously indicated that passengers traveling from Athens to Iceland have increased exceptionally in the past few years. Between 2015 and 2021, the annual growth rate was reportedly 20%.
The airline also plugged that passengers not only benefit from the direct flights but also the ability to connect to US destinations within its network, including Baltimore, Boston, New York, and Washington, DC. In Canada, the carrier operates flights to Toronto.
Photo: PLAY
“Moreover, this route serves as a vital link to PLAY’s North American destinations, strengthening our commitment to connecting global travelers with affordable flights,” Jonsson added. “We extend our gratitude to our passengers for their trust and support, and look forward to embarking on this new journey to Greece’s epic capital.”
Source: Greek Travel Pages
