Icelandic budget carrier Play made its debut from Liverpool John Lennon airport today (Friday) with flights to Reykjavik and onward US destinations.
Flights will run twice a week on Mondays and Fridays until April 2023.
Transatlantic destinations include Washington, Baltimore, Boston and New York Stewart airport with a 1.5 hour layover in Iceland.
One-way fares to the US start at £196 with promotional rates to Reykjavik leading in at £39 for bookings made by October 17 before rising to £49.
Chief executive Birgir Jonsson said: “Play’s passenger numbers have already reached a staggering 182,000 in Q2, with August continuing the success with a huge number of 108,000 passengers carried in the month alone.
“Iceland’s extraordinary scenery, rich wildlife and bustling beer scene makes for an epic weekend away and we can’t wait for those in the northwest region of the UK to come and experience it.
“We hope that the football mad Icelanders will be welcomed much the same as they travel to Liverpool in search of the famed atmosphere of Anfield and Goodison Park.”
Liverpool airport aviation development director Paul Winfield added: “As well 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, making it easy for Icelanders and Americans wanting to visit the Liverpool City Region, the north-west and North Wales to fly to Liverpool.
“As an example, we’ve already seen a group of Icelandic Everton fans on the inaugural flight this morning, taking advantage of the first direct flights from Reykjavik to Liverpool and visit the city ahead of Everton’s game on Sunday.”x