WOW Air to Sell Planes, May Affect Your Travel Plans

Image: PHOTO: WOW Air Airbus A330. (photo via Angel Di Bilio / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)
Image: PHOTO: WOW Air Airbus A330. (photo via Angel Di Bilio / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)
Alex Temblador
by Alex Temblador
Last updated: 1:55 PM ET, Sat December 15, 2018

A few days ago, WOW Air offered a limited-time, half-off Christmas flash sale, but recent news about the budget airline's financial status has some wondering why.

On Thursday, WOW Air announced that they're cutting back on flights which could affect reservations in 2019.

The carrier will be reducing the number of airplanes they use from 20 to 11 and will sell four Airbus A321s for $10 million to keep the company in business. WOW Air also plans to return four widebody Airbus 330s.

Things are so dire that the airline also laid off 111 employees and won't be renewing contracts with temporary or contract workers.

"After a challenging year, WOW air is now restructuring and simplifying its operations to return to its roots as a profitable ultra-low cost airline, while discussions with Indigo Partners progress,'' WOW said in a statement per USA Today.

With the loss of nine planes, this could affect travelers' bookings. The airline said that it won't affect the December and early January schedules, but some reservations beyond that time could change or be canceled altogether.

Travelers will be notified if their booking is among those affected.

"This is the most difficult day in the history of WOW Air," CEO Skuli Mogensen said in the statement. "We have dedicated people who have worked hard to make WOW Air a reality and it breaks my heart to downsize the company. However, in order to ensure our future and preserve WOW Air in the long run, we unfortunately must take these drastic measures.''


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Alex Temblador

Alex Temblador

Alex Temblador is an award-winning travel writer and the award-winning author of Secrets of the Casa Rosada, Half Outlaw, andWriting An Identity Not Your Own. This Mixed Latine writer is based in Dallas, Texas, and has had publications in Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, Outside, among many others. She's best known for her articles on diversity, inclusion, and equity in travel. You can reach her at [email protected].

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