WOW Air Airline Guide, Routes & History
WOW Air was Iceland’s ultra-low-cost transatlantic carrier — the airline that briefly made $99 transatlantic flights a reality by routing US–Europe traffic through Reykjavik before ceasing operations in March 2019.
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WOW Air — Airline Overview
WOW Air was an Icelandic ultra-low-cost carrier founded by Skúli Mogensen in 2011, which grew rapidly to become one of the most disruptive forces in transatlantic aviation by offering extraordinarily low base fares (sometimes as low as $99 one-way) between US cities and European destinations, routing passengers through Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF) as a mid-Atlantic hub. At its peak, WOW Air operated from 20+ US and Canadian cities to 30+ European destinations via Keflavik, flying Airbus A320, A321, and A330 aircraft. The airline’s business model — based on an ultra-low base fare with aggressive ancillary revenue from baggage, seat selection, and onboard sales — worked well in the growth phase but proved unsustainable when fuel costs rose and competition intensified from Icelandair and transatlantic expansions by Norwegian Air and other LCCs. WOW Air abruptly ceased all operations on March 28, 2019, leaving thousands of passengers stranded mid-journey. The brand was subsequently acquired and an attempted relaunch (WOW Air 2.0 in 2020) also failed to materialise into sustained operations.
✈ Quick Facts
IATA Code
WW
ICAO Code
WOW
Headquarters
Reykjavik, Iceland
Hub Airport(s)
Reykjavik Keflavik (KEF)
Cabin Classes
WOW Air Cabin Classes & Seating
Historical cabin products operated by WOW Air prior to cessation.
WOW Basic
Ultra-low base fare — personal item only (40x30x15cm under seat). All other items charged separately. The iconic $99 transatlantic fare that made WOW famous was typically a WOW Basic fare with no bags, no seat selection.
WOW Plus
Bundled fare adding a carry-on bag, seat selection, and one checked bag — the recommended option for most travelers and typically the realistic total price for a usable transatlantic fare.
WOW Business
WOW’s business class product on A330 aircraft — extra legroom, wider seats, priority boarding, and lounge access. Not a lie-flat product; closer to premium economy than traditional transatlantic business class.
Historical Routes
WOW Air Routes — Historical Flight Network
Key routes operated by WOW Air prior to cessation of operations.
| From | To | Frequency | Flight Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston (BOS) | Reykjavik (KEF) | Multiple daily (at peak operations) | WW 111 |
| New York (JFK) | Reykjavik (KEF) | Multiple daily (at peak) | WW 101 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Reykjavik (KEF) | Daily (at peak) | WW 121 |
| Chicago (ORD) | Reykjavik (KEF) | Daily (at peak) | WW 131 |
| Reykjavik (KEF) | Amsterdam (AMS) | Daily connection | WW connection |
| Reykjavik (KEF) | Copenhagen (CPH) | Daily connection | WW connection |
Key Information
WOW Air — What You Need to Know
Important information about WOW Air and current alternatives for affected passengers.
⚠ WOW Air Ceased Operations — March 2019
WOW Air abruptly suspended all flights on March 28, 2019. The airline no longer operates any routes. Passengers who had booked future flights were left without travel and advised to seek refunds through their credit card issuer (chargeback) or travel insurance. Any WOW Air ticket or voucher is no longer valid.
Current Iceland Alternatives — Icelandair & Play
The two current options for Iceland and Europe via Reykjavik are Icelandair (full-service, codeshares with Alaska and American, excellent Stopover program) and PLAY (a new Icelandic ULC founded 2021, operating A320/A321 on transatlantic routes as a spiritual successor to WOW). PLAY offers competitive low-fare transatlantic service from BOS, JFK, BWI, MIA, and other US cities.
WOW's Legacy — Iceland's Tourism Transformation
WOW Air’s greatest legacy is the transformation of Iceland into a major international tourism destination — the airline’s low fares drove an extraordinary tourism boom (from 500,000 annual visitors in 2010 to 2.3 million in 2018), fundamentally changing Iceland’s economy and global profile before the airline’s collapse.
Transatlantic LCC Successors — Who Flies Cheaply Today
The ultra-low-cost transatlantic market WOW pioneered continues with PLAY (Iceland), Norse Atlantic Airways (Norwegian-backed, JFK/LAX/MIA/BOS to London/Oslo/Paris), and Condor (Germany, seasonal US routes). These carriers offer WOW-style low base fares with similar ancillary fee structures on transatlantic routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — WOW Air permanently ceased all operations on March 28, 2019, with no advance notice to passengers. The airline filed for bankruptcy and grounded its entire fleet overnight. WOW Air no longer operates any flights.
WOW Air ceased operations in March 2019 after failing to secure emergency financing from investors including Indigo Partners and Icelandair. Rising fuel costs, intense competition from Norwegian Air and Icelandair, and a business model dependent on ultra-low base fares with high ancillary revenue proved unsustainable. Thousands of passengers were stranded mid-journey.
WOW Air tickets purchased after the airline's cessation are void. Passengers who held tickets at the time of the March 2019 shutdown were advised to file chargebacks with their credit card issuers under Section 75 (UK) or Regulation E (US). Travel insurance claims may also have applied. The time limit for most chargeback claims has now passed.
Icelandair (the established full-service Icelandic carrier) and PLAY (a new Icelandic ULC founded 2021) are the primary carriers operating Iceland routes from the US. Norse Atlantic Airways operates from JFK, LAX, MIA, and BOS to European cities as a WOW-style LCC alternative.
WOW Air's model was not nonstop US–Europe service but rather a connection via Reykjavik Keflavik (KEF), its mid-Atlantic hub. Passengers flew US city to KEF, then KEF to European destination, with a transit time in Keflavik typically ranging from 1 to 4 hours.
WOW Air's promotional base fares were as low as $99 one-way from the US East Coast to Europe (via Reykjavik). These fares excluded all baggage, seat selection, and onboard meals. The realistic all-in price including a carry-on bag and one checked bag was typically $200–350 one-way — still significantly below mainline carriers.
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