WOW Air Ceases Operations, Stranding Thousands Around the World

Icelandic budget airline WOW Air ceased operations, reportedly leaving passengers stranded across the world.

The firm, which specialized in budget trans-Atlantic flights, announced its closure in a statement on its website on March 28, advising passengers to book new flights on other airlines. Some might be eligible for compensation.

“WOW AIR has ceased operation. All WOW AIR flights have been cancelled,” the company wrote, adding: “Some airlines may offer flights at a reduced rate, so-called rescue fares, in light of the circumstances. Information on those airlines will be published, when it becomes available.”

Wow Air CEO Skúli Mogensen said that negotiations to save the company went until the early morning hours in Iceland.

“As is normal, people believed we would get the investment,” Mogensen was quoted by CNN as saying. “We have been very transparent, but it didn’t happen.”

More than 1,000 passengers have been impacted by the closure. He didn’t know how many tickets were sold.

But, according to the CBC, the airline had 27 flights scheduled on March 28, which had about 2,700 passengers. Local news website Iceland Review reported that an estimated 2,700 to 4,000 passengers were stranded

“I’m very sorry about this as these are people who have supported us,” said Mogensen, CNN reported. “I’m disappointed not to honor our commitments.”

At the Toronto airport, Saurabh Aggarwal, a passenger who was slated to go from Toronto to Reykjavik, said there was chaos.

Aggarwal said customers were provided conflicting information by the airliner about their flight’s status before it was canceled at around 10:55 p.m. on March 27.

Passengers were given no accommodation. No refunds were given, she told CNN.

“This really scared everyone, at that point we were finally given back our bags and no money as of now has been issued back to me,” Aggarwal told the news outlet.

The next day, passengers got an email from WOW Air, saying the airliner ceased operations and flights were canceled.

Another WOW passenger complained.

“I have heard absolutely nothing from WOW Air. But earlier this week I did receive quite a few emails encouraging me to upgrade my seat or check more bags, so they were definitely active in asking for more money the past few days,” Alex Space of Canada told the CBC.

Mogensen, who founded the company in 2011, said he was sorry.

“I will never forgive myself for not acting sooner,” Mogensen said, reported the CBC. “WOW was clearly an incredible airline and we were on the path to do amazing things again.”

More Details

On its website, WOW Air said that people who paid via a credit card can contact their credit card company to check whether a refund is available.

“Passengers who may have bought travel protection, or those passengers whose credit card terms may include such protection, may be entitled to claim compensation and assistance due to delays or travel disruption. However, such compensation is often limited,” the firm also wrote.

It added: “Passengers who bought their ticket from a European travel agent (within the European Economic Area) as a part of a package tour (a package which includes flights and accommodation or other services) are protected by the Package Travel Directive. Those passengers are advised to contact their travel agent to arrange an alternative flight.”

The firm didn’t offer any other details.

WOW Passengers can check with several website:

- Icelandic Transport Authority: www.samgongustofa.is / www.icetra.is - Keflavik Airport: www.isavia.is/en - WOW AIR: www.wowair.com - General information about passenger rights can be found at www.icetra.is