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Iceland’s WOW Air to launch India flights
May 18th 2018
Icelandic ultra-low-cost carrier, WOW Air, has announced flights from Reykjavik to New Delhi will be launched on December 6. Read More » The route will be WOW Air’s first service to Asia.
WOW Air has built an extensive network from its Reykjavik hub to North America and Europe. The carrier hopes to siphon off some of the lucrative U.S.-India traffic, dominated by the ‘Big Three’ European heavyweights – Air France-KLM, Lufthansa Group and IAG – and the Middle Eastern airlines.
WOW Air is offering US$199 one-way fares between the U.S. East Coast and New Delhi, although these fares are without luggage allowance, seat assignment, in-flight entertainment and/or onboard catering. After adding those ancillaries, the real one-way cost is much closer to US$300, rendering the offering significantly less competitive. Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines are offering ‘all-in’ economy class return fares from the U.S. East Coast to India for US$600-US$800.
The airline will be competing in the Europe-Asia market with Norwegian (Bangkok and Singapore) and Scoot (Athens and Berlin). AirAsia X used to fly to London and Paris but ceased the routes, citing unprofitability. AirAsia founder, Tony Fernandes, recently said a return to Europe was not a short or medium term priority.
WOW Air’s Reykjavik-Delhi flights will be operated by an Airbus A330-900neo with 365 economy seats. The airline will receive four of the type on 12-year leases from CIT Aerospace.
The airline will fly to New Delhi three times a week until it increases frequency to five times weekly in January. “This exciting new route is an important milestone in the growth of WOW Air. It signifies our continuing mission to open the skies and enable even greater travel possibilities, always at the best rates possible,” said WOW Air CEO, Skuli Mogensen.
Orient Aviation understands the carrier is evaluating additional destinations in the Asia-Pacific, including Hong Kong and Honolulu.
