Purple has always signalled a touch of magic—and quite frankly, this company’s initial footsteps in Asia seem too good to be true. Iceland’s transatlantic airline Wow Air is launching their first direct flight from New Delhi to Keflavik Airport this December. With four different price ranges catering to every breed of flyer, CEO Skúli Mogensen has revealed the astounding WOWbasic introductory offer of ₹13, 499 for one-way tickets from New Delhi to the United States, Canada, London, and of course, Iceland. While inclusive of taxes, in-flight meals and check-in baggage shall incur additional costs. Business-class fares (WOWpremium) are priced at higher but equally competitive ₹ 46, 599.

Wow Air’s family of young airbuses bear a host of quirky registration names—TF-MOM, TF-LUV, TF-JOY to name a few. Founded in November 2011 and currently serving eight million passengers, their fleet travels to 39 destinations across Europe and North America.

Flights from Delhi have been planned at five per week, with daily flights lined up in the foreseeable future as more cities climb into to their itinerary—Dallas, Detroit and Cincinnati are some recent additions.

Wow Air CEO Skúli Mogensen at a press conference in New Delhi
Wow Air CEO Skúli Mogensen at a press conference in New Delhi

Hoping to tap into what Mogensen calls price-conscious ‘smart travellers’, the Icelandic financier and entrepreneur has pegged Wow Air’s USP as delivering high-performance on a reasonable budget—all with a bright smile. According to him, Iceland is the ideal stopover for flights to North America, with the country’s spectacular landscapes and outdoor adventures offering a much needed break in long-haul journeys. Mogensen even hinted at a further reduction in ticket prices, should travellers choose to explore activity packages in his country via the official Wow Air website.

Pre-planned tours include visits to geothermal spas, whale watching, quad-biking, city halts, exploring the twists and turns of lava tubes, and cruises that help witness the mesmerising Northern Lights.

It currently takes 10.5 hours on a direct flight from New Delhi to Iceland. Since in-flight Internet is spotty across the Atlantic Ocean, Wow Air recommends bringing in one’s own selection of entertainment options; however, the airline does offer iPads on rent.

Citing integration as an important part of the experience, the airline revealed at a press conference in the national capital that 75% of the cabin crew for India are local hires. Wow Air feels that the country holds a vast, untapped market for those who are on a budget but do not wish to compromise on a scenic European getaway. Illustrating the Middle East’s successes with aviation in the last few decades, that led to a boost in their economy, Mogensen makes his intentions clear—he envisions Iceland as ‘the Dubai of the North’.

For bookings, destinations, packages and further information, visit wowair.com