WOW air

WOW air
IATA ICAO Callsign
WW WOW WOW AIR
Founded November 2011
Commenced operations 31 May 2012
Operating bases Keflavík International Airport
Fleet size 6
Destinations 23
Headquarters Reykjavík, Iceland
Key people Skúli Mogensen (CEO)
Website www.wowair.com

WOW air is an Icelandic low-cost carrier that was founded in November 2011 and describes itself as “the airline with the biggest smile and lowest prices”. The airline operates services to a total of 23 destinations in Europe, the USA, and Canada (starting in May 2016).[1]

History

WOW air has grown rapidly since its inaugural flight in 2012. The airline carried over 400.000 guests in 2013 and was the most punctual airline in Iceland that year. WOW air reached an important milestone in December 2014 when the airline carried its one millionth guest. WOW air's annual passenger capacity will more than double in 2016 to over 1.6 million, from approximately 740,000 in 2015.

The airline's main base is Keflavík International Airport. Its headquarters are in Reykjavík, Iceland.[2]

In October 2012, WOW air acquired Iceland Express's operations and network. Iceland Express operated to several destinations in Europe and North America utilising leased equipment. At the end of October 2012, following the acquisition of its operations, flights to Gatwick and Copenhagen saw frequency increases, services to Berlin-Schönefeld, Kaunas, Salzburg and Warsaw Chopin had begun. Kaunas has since been dropped, replaced by existing services to Vilnius.[1]

WOW air runs the travel agency WOW travel, which specialises in low-cost holidays both to and from Iceland. The company offers a wide range of destinations, hotels, and tours. WOW regards itself as a holiday guru for Iceland as a destination. The time table is typical for a holiday airline, with many destinations, but a sparse schedule.

Destinations

Main article: WOW air destinations

WOW air mainly serves European cities from Reykjavik-Keflavik airport. Since 2015, WOW air started expanding in North America, serving first the USA, then Canada starting in May 2016. Flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco begin in June 2016.

Investors and management

WOW air was founded by entrepreneur Skúli Mogensen, whose extensive business background is largely in technology and telecoms in Iceland, Europe, and North America. The sole owner of WOW air is Titan, an investment company owned by Mogensen, who is the company CEO and sits on the five-person board of directors.

Fleet

WOW air Airbus A320

The WOW air fleet includes the following aircraft (as of February 2016):[3]

WOW air Fleet
Aircraft In Service[3] Orders[4] Passengers Notes
Airbus A320-200 2 180
Airbus A321-200 4 200
Airbus A330-300 3 342[5]
Total 6 3
Additionally, one Airbus A320 aircraft is also operated for WOW air by Air VIA.

References

  1. 1 2 "WOW air". anna.aero. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  2. Get in touch - wowiceland.co.uk "WOW air Katrínartún 12, 105 Reykjavík"
  3. 1 2 "Icelandic Aircraft Register". Icelandic Transport Authority. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  4. "WOW air flies to LA and San Francisco". Iceland Monitor. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  5. "WOW Air to Launch Flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco". Airchive. Retrieved 2015-11-07.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, April 23, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.