Icelandic low-cost carrier Wow Air will add its first Asian destination later this year by launching services from Reykjavik to Delhi in India.
The airline, which has established a network of transatlantic destinations from Iceland, will begin the Delhi service on 6 December. The route, on which Airbus A330neo equipment will be deployed, is to be operated at thrice-weekly frequency initially before becoming a five-times-weekly service in January. Wow is set to receive the first of four leased A330neos later this year.
"This exciting new route is an important milestone in the growth of Wow Air and signifies our continuing mission to open the skies and enable even greater travel possibilities, always at the best rates possible," states chief executive Skuli Mogensen.
While low-cost, long-haul players have made plenty of inroads in the transatlantic market, their penetration between Europe and Asia is more limited.
Norwegian has operated from Scandinavian bases to Bangkok since 2013 and last year added a Singapore service from London Gatwick. Singapore Airlines unit Scoot, meanwhile, has this year begun services linking Singapore with Athens and Berlin Tegel. AirAsia X operated flights from Kuala Lumpur to London and Paris until 2012, and has hinted at expansion beyond Asia again next year.
Another European carrier aiming to develop its leisure long-haul business, Primera Air, is also examining the possibility of starting routes to India and Africa using Airbus A321neo and Boeing 737 Max narrowbodies it is introducing to its fleet. Speaking to FlightGlobal earlier this month, chief executive Hrafn Thorgeirsson said the range of the jets allows flights from central Europe to India and elsewhere in Asia.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
