• WOW Air stops all operations and declares bankruptcy

    From Aviation HQ@2:292/854 to All on Thu Mar 28 20:44:49 2019
    Low cost airline WOW Air immediately ceases all flights. Where the measure initially seemed temporary, it is now definitely over and out for the Icelandic airline. Thousands of travelers have been affected. WOW Air calls on travelers to arrange alternative transportation or to submit a claim to the trustee.

    WOW Air has been in financial trouble for a long time. Discussions with Icelandair and investment company Indigo Partners broke down, resulting in an emergency meeting with creditors last Monday. It was decided there to convert part of the debts into shares. On Thursday morning, WOW Air first reported that the cancellation of the flights had to do with some formalities, but a new update makes it clear that the airline is throwing in the towel.

    The airline started in 2011 and attacked direct competitor Icelandair by offering low-cost flights to Iceland and then to North America. However, in recent months it turned out that the arms race was not profitable. As a result, routes were canceled and aircraft and personnel were divested.

    Icelandair offers travelers who are stranded due to the fall of WOW Air the opportunity to fly back home at a considerably reduced rate.

    If you have a ticket with travel dates between 28 March and 11 April 2019 and are abroad, you can book a ticket with a discount at Icelandair to still be able to fly home. "It's only about that specific group of travelers," a spokesperson emphasizes. A ticket between European destinations and Iceland is available from 60 dollars, a flight between Europe and North America costs 160 dollars.

    To make use of the emergency solution, travelers can fill in a form on a special webpage that Icelandair posted. The discount applies to flights departing from Schiphol, Brussels, London, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Berlin, Dublin, Paris, Hamburg, Glasgow, Helsinki, Oslo, New York, Washington, Boston, Toronto and Edmonton.

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    * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)