Something fishy about WOW relaunch

November 1, 2019

The Icelandic low-cost passenger carrier which famously offered $99 flights across the Atlantic before crashing and burning in March, is due to fly again next month without passengers.

Instead of self-loading cargo, Icelandic broadcasters are revealing that WOW Air is restarting as a cargo operator. Fish not bargain hunters will be its first loads when it re-launches in December.

After an $85 million investment by U.S-based aviation firm USAerospace Associates, low-cost flights between the United States and Europe will start as early as next month.

The inaugural flight will be between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in Iceland. There are plans to add more flight capacity into the busier summer 2020 travel season.

Michele Ballarin, chairwoman of USAerospace, will serve as chairman of the newly reborn Wow Air LLC,. US operations will be based at Washington Dulles with head offices in Reykjavík.

Wow Air ceased operations in March after facing months of financial woes. The Icelandic budget carrier was known for its no-frills $99 transatlantic flights, which have been credited with significantly contributing to the country’s rapid rise in popularity as a tourism destination.

James Graham

James Graham is an award-winning transport media journalist with a long background in the commercial freight sector, including commercial aviation and the aviation supply chain. He was the initial Air Cargo Week journalist and retuned later for a stint as editor. He continues his association as editor of the monthly supplements. He has reported for the newspaper from global locations as well as the UK.