Play starts transferring Airbus fleet after securing Maltese AOC

Icelandic budget carrier Play has secured a Maltese air operator’s certificate from the country’s civil aviation regulator. Play has been seeking the authorisation as part of a strategy to diversify its operations, and capitalise on fleet-leasing opportunities. The carrier is setting up a subsidiary – Play Europe – to which it will hive off part of its fleet of 10 Airbus A320neo-family jets. These will be used to operate services between European mainland cities, on behalf of other airlines. It has already transferred an initial A321neo (TF-AEW) which has been placed on the Maltese register as 9H-PEA. Play says it has reached an agreement under which it will lease three Maltese-registered aircraft to an Eastern European airline.<br/>