Canada currently has just 1 ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) offering long-distance flights (although another is set to join in May). Unfortunately, Icelandic airline PLAY (the successor to WOW air) is changing its transatlantic strategy and leaving Canada after a few years of trying to get a foothold in the market.
In the past decade in particular, ultra low-cost carriers have revolutionized air travel and lowered prices to levels never seen before. One innovation has been long-distance ultra low-cost flights… but that has certainly been a much more challenging model (especially in Canada).
Here are the details of Icelandic airline PLAY’s exit from Canada — and a teaser of a few tips to help you go to Europe for less despite this bad news.
Overview of Icelandic airline PLAY leaving Canada
Here’s what you need to know:
- PLAY served just 1 Canadian destination
- Hamilton, Ontario (YHM)
- The flight was to Reykjavík, Iceland (KEF)
- With transfers to 30+ European cities
- The last flight will be on April 22, 2025
- The airline is changing its strategy
- Flights until then are super cheap
- They’re often on our flight deals page for Toronto
- There are many other ways to get cheap flights
- See details below
After WOW air’s demise (they served Toronto and Montreal), PLAY is the only transatlantic ULCC currently operating in Canada — although French bee will start a new Montreal-Paris route this spring, as I discussed when I was interviewed for a TV news program a while back.
PLAY’s exit is a big loss for travelers in all of Southern Ontario, as they are often the cheapest way to get to both Iceland and Europe — just like WOW air was before.
It’s easy for those in the Greater Toronto Area (and even beyond) to make their way to Hamilton for flights at such a low price (having done the journey myself with GO Transit), and at least you had the option at all. Soon, you won’t.
Flights to continental Europe are as low as the $300s roundtrip, which is insanely cheap when you think about it.
(A client once paid $1390 (CA$2000) to fly me between Québec City and Edmonton when I was in management consulting, yet I once paid $174 (CA$250) roundtrip for Montreal-Europe on WOW air. That’s cheap, any way you look at it!)
Those low prices on PLAY are still often available on Flytrippers’ flight deals page from Toronto, for the remaining flights until late April. If you want to seize the opportunity to get flights at a price point we might not see again in Canada for a while (or ever), it’s your last chance.
Why is Icelandic airline PLAY leaving Canada?
PLAY’s executives announced that they were switching their strategy and de-emphasizing their transatlantic flights. They’ve shared that these routes haven’t performed as well as expected.
This is certainly due to the intense competition from other airlines, with more flights between Canada and Europe available than ever before.
Choosing Hamilton instead of Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) was also probably not the best approach, honestly. WOW air executives had told Flytrippers that Toronto and Montreal were among their best performing North American routes, but WOW air flew to Toronto proper (well… to Mississauga).
Getting the ULCC model to work for long-distance flights has been very hard for every airline that has tried, especially in the transatlantic market. There aren’t many ULCC routes left there.
Where does PLAY fly to in North America?
In addition to leaving the Canadian market, PLAY has also canceled its route to Washington-Dulles (IAD).
That leaves only 3 North American destinations:
- Boston (BOS)
- New York-Stewart (SWF)
- Baltimore-Washington (BWI)
We’ll soon share a detailed list of remaining long-distance ULCC routes — Norse Atlantic Airways, French bee, and LEVEL thankfully seem to be doing a lot better than PLAY!
What does PLAY’s exit mean for my travel plans?
This is probably very obvious to you, but here are the 3 main impacts of this canceled route:
- Fewer direct options: You’ll have less choice for flights to Europe if you’re in the Toronto area (and no more options at all from Hamilton)
- Higher prices for sure: With less competition, airlines have less incentive to keep prices low — basic economics means fares will increase
- Need to consider alternatives: Of course, you’ll need to look at different flights to Europe if you were considering flying on PLAY after April
How can I save on flights to Europe?
Here’s a teaser of your options to save money on your flights to Europe:
- Check flight deals more regularly
- Be more flexible with destinations, routings, dates, and everything else
- Learn pro tricks for cheaper flights, like the self-transfer tip
- Earn more travel rewards to get more free travel
- Fly from a different Canadian or American city
- Pay a bit more on other airlines serving your city
If you really want to maximize your chances of saving, it’s excessively simple (as with all flights). You just need to take the time to try out our 31 tips for cheaper airplane tickets one by one.
We’ll still share a detailed post about finding cheap flights to Europe specifically soon, since it’s one of the most popular destinations for Canadians.
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Summary
Icelandic airline PLAY is leaving Canada. This means the only transatlantic and long-distance ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC) is exiting the Canadian market, until the new one lands in Montreal in May. Unfortunately, this is bad news for travelers, but Flytrippers is here to help you find cheap flights to Europe despite this canceled route.
What would you like to know about PLAY airline leaving Canada? Tell us in the comments below.
See the flight deals we spot: Cheap flights
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Learn pro tricks: Travel tips
Featured image: Porto, Portugal (photo credit: Everaldo Coelho)
