Cheap transatlantic flights are finally here for us Canadians!
WOW air, Iceland’s only ultra low-cost airline, announced today that it will begin service to Europe viaIceland from Toronto and Montréal beginning in May 2016 from just CAD $99 one way including taxes¹. Flights to Europe will departToronto’s Pearson (YYZ) and Montréal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL) via Reykjavik, offering travellers the cheapest connection betweenEurope 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.
