lavalampluva wrote:

I don’t know if this have been addressed, but it’s obvious that WW might be able to get the aircraft out. What’s the next step? Do the lessors bring in flight crews? I’m sure those aircraft would be transferred to other airlines.

It depends on how the Iceland bankruptcy laws works. I'm in opinion all creditors are now having meeting with Skuli and his management to discuss how to sort out the mess. Who gets what, how and when. Good things is most of those those leased aircraft are not in Iceland, so the Iceland government can't seize them to pay off local creditors (yet).

Usually the lessor will bring in their third party ferrying crew to fly their aircraft out to usually desert or Shannon (usual transit point) for storage or preparation for next customer.

Frontier, the original, did the same thing on the eve of it's shutdown (which was not initially a Ch 11 filing). Flights to Canada & Mexico were canceled the evening before its shutdown. In Frontier's case, all INTL flights were tag-ons of domestic routes (DEN-GEG-YVR) so the aircraft flew their US legs but remained in the states. That was done to prevent any issues when the order was given at 4:00am the next morning the airline was shutting down and all outstation aircraft were to ferry back to DEN.

B727skyguy wrote:

When Braniff International Airways (BN) shut down in May 1982, they quietly started cancelling their international flights and brought those planes back to the US. At the time, no one was sure why the flights were being cancelled. There's an interesting book called "Splash of Colors" by John Nance. It's an excellent read. I'm surprised WW didn't do something similar. I suppose the lessor will have to repossess the planes and have their own pilots ferry them out.

juliuswong wrote:

lavalampluva wrote:

I don’t know if this have been addressed, but it’s obvious that WW might be able to get the aircraft out. What’s the next step? Do the lessors bring in flight crews? I’m sure those aircraft would be transferred to other airlines.

It depends on how the Iceland bankruptcy laws works. I'm in opinion all creditors are now having meeting with Skuli and his management to discuss how to sort out the mess. Who gets what, how and when. Good things is most of those those leased aircraft are not in Iceland, so the Iceland government can't seize them to pay off local creditors (yet).

Usually the lessor will bring in their third party ferrying crew to fly their aircraft out to usually desert or Shannon (usual transit point) for storage or preparation for next customer.

We’ll see how this plays out. If there’s any corporate corruption going on Skuli is in a world of hurt. Iceland is pretty strict when it comes to corporate shannigans.

Gulfstream500 wrote:

SoCalFlyer wrote:

What’s the latest on WOW Air’s planes? Has any other airlines stepped in to acquire them? Also, how will they get out of other places back to the owner? Does the owners send pilots to reposes them?

No sales reported on flightaware yet. One aircraft (tf-now) is currently in Cuba, probably a charter. Another aircraft is in Slovenia (tf-neo). That may have been a sale.

TF-NOW has been parked at a remote stand at MIA ever since it was repossessed about a week ago.

Wow, just wow, wow.

This is an April fools joke right. Please don't tell me WOW Air has shut down. That would be very sad god please let this be an April fools joke.

juliuswong wrote:

Read the online. https://www.icelandreview.com/news/gove ... ankruptcy/

WOW air’s bankruptcy last Thursday has already led to some 1,500 layoffs so far, the largest mass layoff in Icelandic history.

The vast majority of those left unemployed, or around 1,100, were employees of WOW.
Another 315 were laid off by Airport Associates, which provides air terminal service at Keflavík Airport.

A large construction company in the Keflavík area has let go of 40 employees, while tour bus company Reykjavík Excursions has laid off 59.

Keflavík airport’s Duty Free stores have also laid off six employees, citing that around 30% of passenger traffic at the airport was due to WOW air’s flights.

Hope those left unemployed after WW's demise will find a job soon.

While I was in Iceland I was recommended this article on how a number of FAs at WW were registered nurses, and were looking to work at hospitals in the wake of the shutdown. Articles claim that there's a shortage of nurses in Iceland and that hospitals are happy to give them a job–though it's not in aviation they can at least continue working.

mooseofspruce wrote:

juliuswong wrote:

Read the online. https://www.icelandreview.com/news/gove ... ankruptcy/

WOW air’s bankruptcy last Thursday has already led to some 1,500 layoffs so far, the largest mass layoff in Icelandic history.

The vast majority of those left unemployed, or around 1,100, were employees of WOW.
Another 315 were laid off by Airport Associates, which provides air terminal service at Keflavík Airport.

A large construction company in the Keflavík area has let go of 40 employees, while tour bus company Reykjavík Excursions has laid off 59.

Keflavík airport’s Duty Free stores have also laid off six employees, citing that around 30% of passenger traffic at the airport was due to WOW air’s flights.

Hope those left unemployed after WW's demise will find a job soon.

While I was in Iceland I was recommended this article on how a number of FAs at WW were registered nurses, and were looking to work at hospitals in the wake of the shutdown. Articles claim that there's a shortage of nurses in Iceland and that hospitals are happy to give them a job–though it's not in aviation they can at least continue working.

Yes, a lot of nurses, teachers and cops were employed by WOW. All of those can easily find work immediately in their respective fields in Iceland.

Just to mention it here. Airlines are reacting to the demise of WOW.

Transavia is announcing AMS-KEF-AMS: https://www.mbl.is/vidskipti/frettir/20 ... eflavikur/
Other airlines are re checking their flight plans, Airport Associates, that did the check inn, ramp and cargo for WOW, is rehiring 205 from 315 fired last week, they are expecting other customers. Icelandair is adding 3 767-300ER and will redo the summer plans: https://www.mbl.is/vidskipti/frettir/20 ... lugferdum/

It seems that always a competitor drops out, others will fill the hole.

Found this on the internet. https://kjarninn.overcastcdn.com/docume ... esound.pdf

Last year's Board Meeting presentation. An interesting read, especially those relating to financials.

Round deux?

http://www.ruv.is/frett/wow-air-20

Deja Vu... Skuli, let it go....

Can’t wait for B6 to Kef

Blueknows wrote:

Can’t wait for B6 to Kef

Don't see it happening TBH, they already codeshare with FI from BOS/JFK/MCO/TPA along with B6 FFs earning miles when flying FI and vice versa. B6 itself couldn't connect to FI's European banks unless it sat on the ground in KEF for 8+ hours, which obviously is a non-starter. I think both airlines are satisfied with the status quo.

Just arrived at BOS for a DL flight and saw the WW 321 sitting there at North Cargo, so no movement yet.

kyrone wrote:

Round deux?

http://www.ruv.is/frett/wow-air-20

As an Icelandic consumer who remembers a time before there was a second Icelandic airline I can't help rooting for Skúli in this, although I know it's a longshot. Icelandair is a good airline but they absolutely need competition on the home front.

kyrone wrote:

Round deux?

http://www.ruv.is/frett/wow-air-20

Hopefully he can put WOW Air back in the skies again. Would love to see the purple plane back at DTW just hope that DTW is one of the 13. Interestingly the WOW flight numbers out of DTW were 13T and 13Y

klm617 wrote:

kyrone wrote:

Round deux?

http://www.ruv.is/frett/wow-air-20

Hopefully he can put WOW Air back in the skies again. Would love to see the purple plane back at DTW just hope that DTW is one of the 13. Interestingly the WOW flight numbers out of DTW were 13T and 13Y

It’s listed as BOS, BWI, and New York in another article. I think they are looking at 4-5 planes the first year. I would guess a couple years before DTW was back in their network.

Apparently the investors presentation is public (or leaked) I can’t seem to find it though. Anyone have any luck finding it in Icelandic news?

Will investors really be rushing to invest here? Given the WOW business model and financials didn't work first time around. What will be different with the same man at the helm, following a similar business model?

wexfordflyer wrote:

Will investors really be rushing to invest here? Given the WOW business model and financials didn't work first time around. What will be different with the same man at the helm, following a similar business model?

I don't think he can pull this off, given that as you say most inventors will be very sceptical towards him due to recent history. However, I hope he somehow pulls this off as more choice is never bad for the customer. Plus, if he stays in his lane this time as a ULCC with rational growth than I think WOW and FI could very well co-exist in a friendly and profitable manner.

SRQKEF wrote:

wexfordflyer wrote:

Will investors really be rushing to invest here? Given the WOW business model and financials didn't work first time around. What will be different with the same man at the helm, following a similar business model?

I don't think he can pull this off, given that as you say most inventors will be very sceptical towards him due to recent history. However, I hope he somehow pulls this off as more choice is never bad for the customer. Plus, if he stays in his lane this time as a ULCC with rational growth than I think WOW and FI could very well co-exist in a friendly and profitable manner.

You mean if the guy who said he lost everything suddenly pulls $40-50M out of a hat? Not sure he would even get an AOC.

hvusslax wrote:

As an Icelandic consumer who remembers a time before there was a second Icelandic airline I can't help rooting for Skúli in this, although I know it's a longshot. Icelandair is a good airline but they absolutely need competition on the home front.

An interesting point, but one of the biggest developments in the last 10 years or so, in my opinion, would be the number of airlines that now fly from their home turf to KEF. Add that to the number of airlines that offer cheap North America to Europe fares, with who Icelandair is competing in that market, makes me think that they don't really have much of a monopoly with the loss of WOW.

It is certainly very different from the era where Icelandic carriers were almost the only game in town getting to Iceland.

It is said in the Icelandic media that they plan to get their AOC by flying for a "significant" european airline for the first few months.

I wonder if Icelandair could be the 49% owner that they suggest in the news and will use this to solve their max problem?

airdoctor wrote:

It is said in the Icelandic media that they plan to get their AOC by flying for a "significant" european airline for the first few months.

I wonder if Icelandair could be the 49% owner that they suggest in the news and will use this to solve their max problem?

Or could it be Wizz?

airdoctor wrote:

It is said in the Icelandic media that they plan to get their AOC by flying for a "significant" european airline for the first few months.

I wonder if Icelandair could be the 49% owner that they suggest in the news and will use this to solve their max problem?

Very unlikely. Icelandair already cut routes and leased the planes to make this summer work. Hiring WOW provides FI a small/moderate at most short term benefit with the potential for a huge long term hurt.

SurfandSnow wrote:

juliuswong wrote:

Read the online. https://www.icelandreview.com/news/gove ... ankruptcy/

WOW air’s bankruptcy last Thursday has already led to some 1,500 layoffs so far, the largest mass layoff in Icelandic history.

The vast majority of those left unemployed, or around 1,100, were employees of WOW.
Another 315 were laid off by Airport Associates, which provides air terminal service at Keflavík Airport.

A large construction company in the Keflavík area has let go of 40 employees, while tour bus company Reykjavík Excursions has laid off 59.

Keflavík airport’s Duty Free stores have also laid off six employees, citing that around 30% of passenger traffic at the airport was due to WOW air’s flights.

Hope those left unemployed after WW's demise will find a job soon.

The loss of WOW air should be no problem for a nation that demonstrated remarkable resiliency to the world after the 2008-2011 Icelandic financial crisis. If nothing else, the reckless expansion of WW attracted carriers like AA, AC, DL and UA to KEF - major airlines that weren't flying tourists to Iceland before.

@SurrfandSnow, yes I agree with you. Icelandic people has so much resilient in them, for this I admire them. As mentioned by lavalampluva, most can go back to their previous work as nurses, teachers and cops. This is remarkable how employable the locals are. Hands up!

Thanks for the info. With AA, AC, DL and UA now flying into KEF, I am glad there are competition to keep to FI in check.

The A321 that’s been stored at DTW left this afternoon for YUL

airdoctor wrote:

airdoctor wrote:

Or could it be Wizz?

Might be on to something here.

dtw9 wrote:

The A321 that’s been stored at DTW left this afternoon for YUL

Interesting news, YUL already had two A321's stored from WOW. TF-PRO, the seized aircraft that started the whole mess was moved to a general aviation ramp, Starlink. The other A321 was last seen stored inside an Air Canada hangar as of two days ago. Is AC kicking the tires on more A321's in addition to the four they already purchased or is this a tech stop on the way back to Europe?

Apparently it landed at CYMX

Just flew out of BWI and there was one WOW A321 sitting on the ramp outside terminal E. Wonder what will come of it

Good riddance

bdepalo wrote:

Just flew out of BWI and there was one WOW A321 sitting on the ramp outside terminal E. Wonder what will come of it

Saw TF-CAT this morning @ EWR...

airdoctor wrote:

It is said in the Icelandic media that they plan to get their AOC by flying for a "significant" european airline for the first few months.

I wonder if Icelandair could be the 49% owner that they suggest in the news and will use this to solve their max problem?

Icelandair won't be getting involved in any possible resurrection of WOW and why would they!

The Icelandair Group have just sold 11.7% of the company to Par Capital Management a Boston, USA based privately owned hedge fund.

The Icelandair Group have their own airline to run, they won't be getting involved with anything concerning WOW and they are right in not doing so.

Rumor has it that Spirit is taking two

Boeing727 wrote:

bdepalo wrote:

Just flew out of BWI and there was one WOW A321 sitting on the ramp outside terminal E. Wonder what will come of it

Saw TF-CAT this morning @ EWR...

Here is a NJ newspaper website article on the one at EWR:
https://www.nj.com/news/2019/04/theres- ... npike.html

Boeing727 wrote:

bdepalo wrote:

Just flew out of BWI and there was one WOW A321 sitting on the ramp outside terminal E. Wonder what will come of it

Saw TF-CAT this morning @ EWR...

Yeah, I saw her last night. Anyone driving south on the NJ Turnpike will get a great view of her since she’s parked right next to the highway.

The Wow Air CEO is seeking investors to fund a “WOW Air 2.0” and use Wow’s assets to relaunch. They attempting to fly with a smaller fleet of one airbus a320neo, and four airbus a321neos.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/simpleflyi ... aunch/amp/

Gulfstream500 wrote:

The Wow Air CEO is seeking investors to fund a “WOW Air 2.0” and use Wow’s assets to relaunch. They attempting to fly with a smaller fleet of one airbus a320neo, and four airbus a321neos.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/simpleflyi ... aunch/amp/

While already being discussed in the larger WOW air thread, I'm going to let the moderators decide if this warrants its own thread. However, I suggest the title be changed to "WOW Air founder WANTS to relaunch it as new company" because this certainly isn't a sure thing yet, this is just a last ditch attempt to salvage something because he invested almost everything he had in the airline.

I'd give this about a 5% chance of making it out of the gate and 1% chance of succeeding if it does, because a) who wants to invest in an airline that just went bankrupt, based on the promises of a man that has shown through the last year his promises are worth zero, and b) if it does succeed who will trust WOW enough to book with them, especially at a short notice? I just don't see it happening.

I'm afraid the market won't be on his side this time round, its too soon to do such a thing that it looks like its done for personal gain or simply to fill his ego.

sticking to the low cost airlines model, aka stop trying to connect people across Atlantic?

c933103 wrote:

sticking to the low cost airlines model, aka stop trying to connect people across Atlantic?

No, just fewer N-American destinations and more of a balance between O&D and connections, a smaller and more uniform fleet (read: no stupid widebody acquisitions) and a more simple operation in terms of fare classes and staff. It might have merit if WOW was starting today as an unknown entity, but the brand must be tarnished beyond retribution at this point.

SRQKEF wrote:

c933103 wrote:

sticking to the low cost airlines model, aka stop trying to connect people across Atlantic?

No, just fewer N-American destinations and more of a balance between O&D and connections, a smaller and more uniform fleet (read: no stupid widebody acquisitions) and a more simple operation in terms of fare classes and staff. It might have merit if WOW was starting today as an unknown entity, but the brand must be tarnished beyond retribution at this point.

They could use another brand but then the problem is even if they do use other brands people will still associate those person behind the new brand with the old WOW

Very disappointing not to see Detroit listed as a destination. But understandably he wants to project the image of wanting to be in the big markets sad thing is those markets are already over saturated and he has very little pricing power to get more than $99 fares.

SRQKEF wrote:

c933103 wrote:

sticking to the low cost airlines model, aka stop trying to connect people across Atlantic?

No, just fewer N-American destinations and more of a balance between O&D and connections, a smaller and more uniform fleet (read: no stupid widebody acquisitions) and a more simple operation in terms of fare classes and staff. It might have merit if WOW was starting today as an unknown entity, but the brand must be tarnished beyond retribution at this point.

I think in places like DTW and BWI where customers have no choice they might have a chance but not in the major markets because there are just to many reputable options.

Skuli will do it again! I know he will succeed and be successful! He is the type of person who inspires failures

WOW!

WOW 2.0 already exists.
It’s called Icelandair.

Eitilt wrote:

WOW 2.0 already exists.
It’s called Icelandair.

haha