Iceland’s Wow Air is to move into Stansted next year, opening access to 14 destinations in North America via its hub in Reykjavik.
The budget airline will operate daily from April 25, adding an indirect route to the US and Canada from the Essex airport. Wow Air’s arrival at Stansted next spring will come at the same time as another Icelandic-owned budget airline, Primera, begins non-stop services to New York and Boston.
Wow Air will offer single fares from Stansted to Iceland from £29.99. The airline, which already flies to Gatwick, Bristol and Edinburgh, will also start four new US routes next spring. Detroit will begin on April 25, Cleveland on May 3, Cincinnati on May 9 and St Louis on May 17. All will offer good connections from Stansted. In addition, the Essex airport will offer links to New York, Toronto and Washington.
“It’s a big day for Wow Air as we launch flights from Stansted, our second London airport, plus services to these four new US Midwest destinations,” said Skúli Mogensen, chief executive and founder of Wow Air. “We are proud of our growth over the last two years and will continue to work tirelessly to provide the lowest fares possible to connect the UK to North America, helping to make international travel truly a possibility for everyone.”
The flight will leave Stansted at 17.20, arriving at 19.30. Flights from Iceland will depart at 12.05, arriving at 16.15.
Martin Jones, Stansted commercial director, added: “Reykjavik is a fantastic city and I’m sure it will prove to be a very popular destination in its own right but with the added benefit of opening up the airline’s extensive North American route network from its Icelandic hub, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and Montreal.
“These new flights will also appeal to both business and leisure passengers from London and East of England as well those visiting the UK from the USA.”