Iceland-based budget carrier WOW air announced today it would break into the Asian market by revealing its first destination in the region as New Delhi, India. There had been speculation for a few weeks that this announcement would come as the airline has hinted at wanting to expand to markets outside North America and Europe.
The Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier's First Market Outside N. America & Europe
The new route to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) will launch later this year on December 5th. Allowing customers in nine U.S. and two Canadian cities a low-cost alternative to fly to the vibrant Indian capital via Reykjavik. Alongside the route announcement, WOW air has listed promotional one-way fares starting at $199 and WOW premium seats at $699 one-way to kick off sales to the new destination.
This move by WOW air will try to undercut prices by Middle Eastern airlines like Etihad and Emirates who have long been considered the de facto airlines of choice for travelers heading from the U.S. East Coast to India. By bringing a European-based ULCC into the market, we may hopefully see airfares to the subcontinent drop like they have done over the last couple years on European routes from the States.
During the announcement, founder, and CEO of WOW air, Skuli Mogensen said: "I am thrilled to broaden WOW air's offerings and bring low fare international flight service to India." Morgensen also added: "If you look at flights from India to North America, they actually go directly above Iceland. So Iceland is the perfect hub for India to North America traffic. It has a superior connecting time than what people currently use — London, Dubai, Frankfurt or Amsterdam."
WOW air plans to use its brand new Airbus A330neo aircraft on the route from Reykjavik (KEF) to New Delhi (DEL), which come fitted with the new WOW premium seating options. Departures from KEF will take place Monday through Thursday & Saturday; returns from DEL are available Tuesday through Friday & Sunday.
"WOW basic" service and prices for the new offering are below:
Boston to New Delhi $398 round-trip
Chicago ORD to New Delhi $398 round-trip
Detroit to New Delhi $398 round-trip
Newark to New Delhi $398 round-trip
Los Angeles to New Delhi $398 round-trip
Pittsburgh to New Delhi $398 round-trip
San Francisco to New Delhi $398 round-trip
Baltimore to New Delhi $398 round-trip
St. Louis to New Delhi $398 round-trip
Toronto to New Delhi USD 398 round-trip
Montreal to New Delhi USD 398 round-trip
MyWOW fares require signing up for a free membership on wowair.com.
WOW basic fares only include one small personal item up to 22 lbs. Carry-on bag fees start around $44 (online price) each way for bags larger than 17x13x10 inches. Checked bag fees start around $64 (online price) each way for bags up to 44 lbs. on basic fares.
