HUNDREDS of passengers are facing travel misery after low-cost airline WOW Air cancelled dozens of flights today amid rumours of financial difficulties.
A 9:30am flight from London Gatwick to Reykjavik in Iceland was cancelled this morning at short notice, with more flights cancelled later in the day according to its website.
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One Twitter user said: “@wowairsupport cancelled our flight this morning, without trying to contact us at all. Having to wait at the airport for 8 hours for our next flight with no food/compensation or anyone to help. Sort it out!!!!”
Another said: “@wowairsupport I was supposed to fly out at 10 this morning and get text at 12.30am to say flight cancelled… still no reply. Disgusting!”
A passenger was informed his flight on April 27 was also cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances,” and one Twitter user replied saying their May 31 and June 14 flights were also cancelled.
The WOW air website reveals 20 flights have been cancelled today, including from Cuba to Miami, Iceland to Chicago and Italy to Iceland.
The airline was previously in discussions with Icelandair Group about a possible takeover, although an e-mail from the company has since revealed the talks had been cancelled.
Icelandair said in a statement: “Icelandair Group has decided that is possible involvement in WOW air’s operations, as announced on 20 March 2019, will not materialize.
“Therefore all discussions between the parties have ended.”
The airline’s first flight was in 2012 from Iceland to Paris, before launching cheap flights to the US in 2014.
Brits can travel from the UK to the US and Canada with the airline for as little as £145 each way, with previous flight deals offering London to New York for just £99.
However, rumours of financial trouble started last year after the airline sold four A321s and returned four A330s, reducing the fleet from 20 planes to just 11.
A WOW air spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “Due to the delay of an incoming flight from North America, we have combined our two London departures today.”
It added: “A majority of WOW air Bond Holders and other creditors of WOW air are in advance discussions with the aim of reaching an agreement on a voluntary restructuring including an agreement of converting current debt into equity and fund the company towards long term sustainability.”
Passengers who are concerned about their flight in case of the airline going into administration should ensure their travel insurance includes Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance.
You should also book your flights using a credit card for additional protection, as flights are not covered by ATOL if booking directly with the airline.
Last month, airline FlyBMI went into administration, leaving thousands stranded after all flights were cancelled.
It follows the collapse of Primera Air and Cobalt Air in October 2018 and of Monarch Airlines in October 2017.
