For the first time ever, travelers can book direct flights from Ireland to Iceland – and for cheap. WOW Air, Iceland’s sole low-cost carrier, announced the novelty service on Thursday, January 15th, with lead-in prices being quoted at €49 each way, or $57.
WOW Air – the self-described “airline with the biggest smile and lowest prices” – revealed its first-ever direct scheduled flights from Ireland to Iceland, which will be routed from Dublin to Reykjavik. Flights will run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays with an air travel time of two hours and 20 minutes, and will commence on June 2015.
The flights follow easyJet’s inauguration of direct flights from Belfast, Ireland’s capital, to Reykjavik in December 2014. Prices on that service begin at £39, or $47, each way.
Iceland has long been regarded as a hotspot Nordic travel destination, and is famous for its Blue Lagoon, wildlife, volcanic landscapes and amazing views of the Northern Lights, among other attractions. Not to mention that the nation’s scenic landscapes have remained largely unharmed by its small population of 300,000.
In June and July, the country savors nearly 24 hours of sunlight; as a result, many outdoor activities and daytime features continue late into the night – including a “midnight sun.”
Launched in November 2011, WOW air was founded by Icelandic entrepreneur Skuli Mogensen following the country’s financial crisis. The airline carrier was awarded the Air Operator‘s Certificate (AOC) by the Icelandic Transport Authority in October 2013, and flew its one-millionth passenger last month.
“We are delighted to be the first airline to have scheduled flights direct from Ireland to Iceland,” CEO Mogensen said. “Both our countries have so much to offer visitors and we hope, that in launching this route, it allows people the opportunity to experience some wonderful trips to unique places both in Ireland and Iceland.
In October 2014, the airline launched a budget one-way route from Europe to the United States (Boston) that cost $99 – taxes and fees included – made available through their website.
“We expect to continue to grow and passengers can expect to see more cheap flight routes to North America opening from WOW in the following two years,” Mogensen said at the time. “We have a significant amount of tickets available for this initial launch and there will be more available throughout spring and autumn 2015.”
