Icelandic airline PLAY has launched its new route out of Liverpool John Lennon Airport offering ‘seamless’ onward connections to US cities Washington, Boston and New York. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) now offers “seamless” onward connections to US cities including Washington, Boston and New York.
Low-cost Icelandic airline PLAY launched its direct link to Reykjavik on Friday, which was first announced in April. Operating on Mondays and Fridays the route will see new 180-seat Airbus A320neos fly between Liverpool and the Icelandic capital. The wings for the planes were made in Deeside.
To celebrate the airline’s first arrival at LJLA the airport’s fire and rescue service performed its traditional aircraft ‘baptism’ as the PLAY aircraft taxied towards the terminal building.
On board the plane arriving at LJLA was a group of Everton FC supporters from Iceland. Blues defender Nathan Patterson was on hand to welcome the party who had come to see the clash with Manchester United at Goodison Park on Sunday. He handed out scarves to the group.
Paul Winfield, director of aviation development for LJLA, said: “We’re delighted to welcome PLAY to Liverpool and to add Reykjavik as the latest destination to the airport’s expanding route network.
“As well as offering the region’s travellers an excellent low cost airline product to Iceland and on to New York, Washington and Boston, this will also be another important link for the region’s visitor economy too. It makes it easy for Icelanders and Americans wanting to visit the Liverpool city region, the North West and North Wales to fly to Liverpool.
Birgir Jónsson, chief executive of PLAY, added: “PLAY’s passenger numbers reached a staggering 182,000 in quarter two of this year. August continued the success with 108,000 passengers carried in the month alone.
“Iceland’s extraordinary scenery, rich wildlife and bustling beer scene makes for an epic weekend away. We can’t wait for those in the North West region of the UK to come and experience it.”