Icelandic start-up brings Stewart airport back into transatlantic Play

Icelandic start-up Play Airlines is set to launch the first transatlanic flights to New York Stewart International airport since Norwegian cut its fledgling services there in 2019. Play will serve Stewart daily from Reykjavik beginning 9 June. It marks the third US destination Play has announced plans to serve. It will launch flights to Baltimore in April and Boston the following month. The airline launched flights to European short-haul destinations last summer using three Airbus A321neos. It has since has struck deals with China Aircraft Leasing and GECAS covering the lease six more A320neo family aircraft to support its launch of transatlantic flights. Stewart airport, which is located in Newburgh in the Hudson Valley, is a secondary airport serving the New York market behind the city’s main JFK and Newark hubs. Norwegian is the only carrier that has previously operated scheduled transatlantic flights from the airport, though Norwegian start-up Norse Atlantic Airways in January secured US regulatory approval to launch flights including a planned Oslo connection to Stewart. Play CE Birgir Jonsson says: ”After we learned of the economic growth and the attractions in the area surrounding New York Stewart and the benefits the airport has, we did not hesitate and believe that this is a great opportunity. This decision enables us to offer the lowest prices on flights between New York and Europe as we get a good deal being the first airline operating international flights from the airport.” <br/>