Former WOW executive to launch new budget airline
A former executive of failed Icelandic low-cost airline WOW air is planning to launch a new budget carrier with flights to Europe and the US.
Arnar Mar Magnusson, who was vice president of operations at WOW, says he will start selling tickets for his new airline PLAY later this month.
The airline will, he says, start flying in spring of 2020.
However, the airline doesn’t have any aircraft at the moment and it hasn’t confirmed its route network. Neither does it have an operating certificate.
Speaking at a press conference, Magnusson said PLAY will operate two Airbus A321s from Reykjavik to six European destinations to begin with, adding flights to North America later next year.
It has plans to have six aircraft by next summer, growing to 10 aircraft within three years, which would make it a similar size to WOW air, which collapsed in March.
PLAY claims to have received around $40 million in funding, primarily from overseas investors, one of whom is Simon Whitley-Ryan, the grandson of one of the founders of Ryanair, according to local reports.
Tickets for its flights will go on sale at flyplay.com.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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