COLD PLAY: Airline offers Iceland stopover and new Croatia service

Canadians can add up to 10 days in Iceland at no extra cost when travelling to Europe with PLAY via the low-cost carrier’s hub at Keflavik Airport. PLAY operates daily flights and seasonal services to more than 30 European cities from Hamilton, Ont., including its latest destination, Split, Croatia.

The stopovers take advantage of the airline’s hub-and-spoke model, with all flights connecting through Iceland, which enable travellers to take in waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, hot springs, Northern Lights, and wildlife just a few hours from the capital Reykjavik, which is rich with culture, restaurants, and has a vibrant nightlife.

“PLAY has taken advantage of Iceland’s location near Europe to bring travellers convenient flights and affordable fares, and now the stopover feature brings even more benefits to our passengers,” says PLAY CEO Birgir Jónsson. “Rather than having a few hours layover in Iceland, travellers can make a stop at this bucket-list destination for an extra day or week to experience everything our home country has to offer. Long stayovers are a win-win for both us and our passengers to enable exploration at a low price.”

Operating out of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, PLAY connects through Iceland to destinations including Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Copenhagen, Barcelona, and Athens.

Croatia

Starting May 28, travellers from southern Ontario and the GTA will also have new access to Croatia with flights operating weekly on Tuesdays during the summer.

Split is located on Croatia’s Adriatic coast about halfway between Dubrovnik and Zagreb and serves as ideal gateway to the entire country, including scenic Dalmatia. Tickets from Hamilton are now available, starting at $359 one way.

“Split is a dream destination for us at PLAY,” says Jónsson. “It has beautiful landscapes and a vibrant culture. I have no doubt this will be one of our most popular destinations this year.”

PLAY

Since its first flight in June 2021, PLAY has expanded its fleet from three Airbus A320neo aircraft to 10 Airbus A320/321neo aircraft. The average age of PLAY’s aircraft is just over two years. Passengers receive a streamlined no-frills service without magazines, Wi-Fi, and entertainment, allowing travellers to “pay less (for their flight) and play more (on their holiday).”