Shutterstock / Vytautas Kielaitis Shutterstock / Vytautas Kielaitis / Vytautas Kielaitis

IRISH AIRLINE AER Lingus has confirmed that is offering special rescue fares to passengers affected by the collapse of Icelandic airline WOW Air. 

WOW Air announced in a statement this morning that it had ceased operation, cancelling all flights and disrupting thousands of passenger’s travel plans. 

The budget airline advised passengers to check available flights with all other airlines. 

“Some airlines may offer flights at a reduced rate, so-called rescue fares, in light of the circumstances,” WOW Air said.

Aer Lingus confirmed today that it was offering some rescue fares to affected WOW Air customers who were due to fly between now and 11 April.

“Following WOW Air’s cessation of trading, Aer Lingus can confirm that it is offering impacted WOW Air passengers special rescue fares, in accordance with our voluntary agreement with International Air Transport Association (IATA), and subject to availability on the Aer Lingus network,” an airline spokesperson said.

People looking to avail of the rescue fares are told to contact Aer Lingus.

Earlier

The 10.45am flight from Dublin Airport to Keflavik in Iceland was cancelled. The 9.30am inbound flight from Iceland was also cancelled as a result of the collapse. 

Following the announcement, the Commission for Aviation Regulation has issued advice to passengers.

WOW Air had been struggling financially for months. Talks of a takeover between the budget airline and Icelandair broke down in recent days, the second time Icelandair had cancelled plans to buy the no-frills airline. The first was in November last year. 

Founded in 2011, the airline targeted Iceland’s location in the middle of the North Atlantic to offer a low-cost service between Europe and North America.

However, it began to experience financial trouble in recent years due to heightened competition and rising fuel prices and had been searching for an investor for months.

On Monday, the airline said it was in talks to restructure its debt with its creditors after Icelandair ended brief negotiations.

WOW Air was left needing €37 million to save the company.

The airline had reduced its fleet in recent months from 20 to 11 aircraft, eliminating several destinations – including those to the United States – as well as cutting 111 full-time jobs.

With reporting from © – AFP, 2019