With service to Iceland and European capitals starting at $99 CDN, carrier is poised to shake up Canadian trans-Atlantic travel
TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - WOW air, Iceland's only ultra low-cost airline, announced today that it will begin service to Europe via Iceland from Toronto and Montréal beginning in May 2016 from just CAD $99 one way including taxes¹. Flights to Europe will depart Toronto's Pearson (YYZ) and Montréal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL) via Reykjavik, offering travellers the cheapest connection between Europe and Canada.
After spending about an hour in Reykjavik, it's just CAD $149 one way, including taxes, to the following European destinations: London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Dublin, to name a few. Service from Montréal will begin on May 12, 2016 and Toronto services will begin May 20, 2016. Both services will operate year-round, with departures on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
"WOW air prides itself on offering the lowest fares possible as well as the biggest smile and the friendliest service. When we announced our U.S. routes last year, we promised that it was just the beginning of our growth into North America," said Skúli Mogensen, sole owner and CEO of WOW air. "I'm thrilled to now announce our new routes to Canada, especially as I lived in Montréal for nearly a decade and also because the Icelandic people feel a special affinity for Canada. "
The airline's entry into the Canadian market is expected to create an estimated 100 jobs in the travel sector and represents an investment of CAD $60 million for the two routes to both Toronto and Montréal airports.
Originally launched in November 2011, WOW air now connects travellers from twenty destinations across the U.S. and Europe with the Icelandic capital. Total passenger numbers for June to August 2015 were up a massive 45 per cent on the previous year with 295,000 passengers transported on business and holidays. Passenger loads across all services averaged 95 per cent in July.
WOW air's expansion into the Canadian market follows the successful launch of transatlantic services from Boston and Washington, DC in early 2015. Both services now operate with consistent carrier loads of more than 90 per cent.
"We have just had our best summer ever and, with these new routes launching in May 2016, next summer is another chance to break records. These great Canadian cities will become our newest destinations but I look forward to announcing even more in the not-too-distant future!" said Mogensen.
The flights between Reykjavik and Canada will be operated using WOW air's fleet of new Airbus A321 Extended Range aircraft. The airline's Airbus A320 family aircraft will carry passengers between Reykjavik and other European destinations.
Tickets for the Canada flights will go on sale starting 9:00 a.m. EST on October 1, 2015 via www.wowair.ca.
About WOW air
WOW air is Iceland's only low-cost airline and the most punctual, with 92 per cent of flights arriving on time in 2014
WOW air offers the lowest fares, a modern fleet with the lowest emissions and the biggest smile; this is the WOW air promise to its valuable customers.
As of Spring 2015, the airline services 20 destinations across Europe and North America including London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, Washington, DC and Boston.
Created in November 2011 by Icelandic entrepreneur Skúli Mogensen, the purple airline flies Airbus A320 aircraft across Europe and Airbus A321 aircraft service its transatlantic routes.
WOW air was ranked as the seventh best low-cost airline in Europe at the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Skytrax World Airline Awards and was the youngest airline in the top ten.
For more information: www.wowair.ca
¹ Based on lowest one way fare including taxes and charges booked on www.wowair.ca. Restrictions and booking/baggage fees may apply.
Notes to editors:
Skúli Mogensen is available for interviews via phone and will be in Toronto on October 1 and Montréal on October 2 for in-person interviews. Mogensen is the founder, CEO and sole-owner of WOW air and spent 20 years as an entrepreneur before setting up the airline in 2011. This included setting up OZ Communications in Montréal, then sold onto Nokia in a multi-million dollar deal. This success, combined with initiatives such as the WOW Cyclothon have led to Mogensen being likened to the Icelandic Richard Branson.
SOURCE WOW air
Image with caption: "Skúli Mogensen, founder and CEO WOW air, Iceland' s only ultra low-cost airline, announced Thursday that the airline will begin service to Iceland from Toronto and Montréal in May 2016. Priced from just CAD $99 one-way, including taxes, tickets go on sale via www.wowair.ca Thursday, offering travellers the cheapest connection between Europe and Canada. (CNW Group/WOW air)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151001_C6282_PHOTO_EN_511177.jpg
media please contact: Weber Shandwick for WOW air, Jennifer Wasley, 416 642 7903, [email protected]; Dana Frank, 514 447 3938, [email protected]
Share this article