Icelandic startup and low-cost carrier Play has unveiled its new aircraft livery together with crew uniforms ahead of its operations launch in June 2021.
After halting initial launch preparations due to the events of 2020, the carrier has now revealed the livery of its 192-seater Airbus A321neo. In addition to the one A321neo, two more A321neos are expected to join the airline’s fleet by the end of July 2021.
Together with the unveiling of the carrier’s fleet livery, Play revealed new “gender-neutral” crew uniforms described as “a fresh take on what is usually a very traditional line of clothing,” according to the company.
The airline plans to launch operations on June 24, 2021. Initially, its A321 fleet will operate flights to seven European destinations, including flights from Reykjavik to London Stansted, Alicante, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris CDG, and Tenerife South.
Play was initially introduced to the market in 2019 by former Icelandic carrier Wow Air executives. It was positioned as the successor to Wow Air following its collapse in late March 2019. Investment fund Avianta reportedly put in approximately €35 million ($42 million) for a 75% stake in the airline in 2019. Play had ambitions to operate six narrow bodies on European routes for the summer of 2020, expanding the fleet to ten aircraft by 2023.
In April 2021, the airline secured €41 million ($50 million) from Icelandic financial institutions. It intends to list shares publicly on the Nasdaq First North Iceland market at the end of June 2021, to raise additional capital to fund the carrier’s ambition to operate transatlantic routes, according to the airline’s CEO Birgir Jonsson.
