Play Airlines Abruptly Shuts Down, Stranding Thousands of Passengers
Icelandic low-cost airline Play has abruptly shut down, leaving approximately 400 employees jobless and around 18,000 passengers stranded worldwide. The airline, which began operations in 2019, flew between Keflavik International Airport and various destinations in Europe and the US.
Play Airlines announced its immediate closure on Monday, cancelling all flights. Passengers who purchased tickets as part of a package tour through a travel agency are entitled to repatriation. Those with flight-only bookings are advised to seek alternative flights with other airlines, which may offer 'rescue fares' to stranded passengers.
For refunds, passengers who used a payment card to book should contact their card issuer. The Icelandic Transport Authority (Samgöngustofa) is assisting affected passengers, providing information on their website (icetra.is) and the Keflavik Airport website (kefairport.com).
Play's collapse has left passengers and staff in a difficult situation. While passengers can seek refunds and alternative flights with airlines like , , , or , the future of their bookings remains uncertain. Normally, airlines must provide alternative transport or refund fares for cancelled flights, but in cases of company closure, this may not be possible.
