Play lays off 20 employees

About 20 employees of the airline Play were laid off this week. Birgir Olgeirsson, Play’s communications officer, told mbl.is that the layoffs affect staff across the company.

RÚV was the first to report on the matter. Birgir explained that the layoffs are linked to the reduction of passenger aircraft based in Iceland, from ten down to four.

“The company has announced that after October it will operate four passenger aircraft in Iceland, with crews based in Iceland under Icelandic labor agreements. In addition, six aircraft will be used for leasing projects in Europe,” Olgeirsson said.

He added that this restructuring will mean fewer crew positions in Iceland. Some of this will happen naturally, as employees move on to other jobs or studies, and seasonal staff finish their summer contracts, but in some cases it involves layoffs.

“The company has also announced that it will increase the role of offices at its foreign bases in Lithuania and Malta. Changes to staffing levels in Iceland will follow accordingly, but an office will continue to operate here to offer Icelanders affordable flights to popular destinations in Europe,” Olgeirsson added.