Wow Air Mulls the Dubai Model in Considering Flying to Asia
Photo Credit: Wow Air CEO Skúli Mogensen is evaluating whether the Icelandic carrier should start new Asia routes. Wow Air
Skift Take
It might not happen immediately, but look for Wow Air to eventually expand into Asia. There are no sure things, but the model should work in Asia, too. Who doesn't like low fares?
Iceland's Wow Air has fewer than a dozen aircraft, but founder and CEO Skúli Mogensen is thinking big — and he's looking at Gulf airlines for inspiration.
"Should we try to become the Dubai of the North?" he asked during a recent interview with Skift.
It is not as far fetched as it sounds. Before Emirates' founding three decades ago, Dubai was known globally for little more than its hot temperatures and oil reserves. But Dubai has something other cities do not — a central global location that makes it a convenient connecting point for travel between Europe and the United States and the Middle East, India and Africa. Dubai's geography, combined with heavy government investment, both in the airline and airport infrastructure, is a major reason Emirates has succeeded.
Wow Air may not have Dubai-type oil reserves, but it does have an advantageous location. Icelandair has long capitalized on the country's North Atlantic position to offer seamless connections between the North
