© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

WOW to start flights between Lambert International and Iceland

St. Louis Public Radio | By Wayne Pratt
Published August 23, 2017 at 11:42 AM CDT
WOW air, which will start flights in St. Louis next year, was launched in 2011 by Icelandic entrepreneur Skúli Mogensen.
BriYYZ | Flickr
WOW air, which will start flights in St. Louis next year, was launched in 2011 by Icelandic entrepreneur Skúli Mogensen.

The St. Louis region is about to get a direct link to Reykjavik. Iceland-based WOW air will begin four flights a week between St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Keflavik International Airport in May. From there, passengers can go on to European cities including Berlin, Paris, and London.

WOW air, which will start flights in St. Louis next year, was launched in 2011 by Icelandic entrepreneur Skúli Mogensen.
Credit BriYYZ | Flickr
WOW air, which will start flights in St. Louis next year, was launched in 2011 by Icelandic entrepreneur Skúli Mogensen.

The announcement Wednesday is part of an expansion by WOW into four Midwest cities. The others are Detroit, Cleveland and the Cincinnati area, bringing the number of American destinations for the airline to 12. It started U.S. service in Boston slightly more than two years ago.

It has taken a few months to put the local deal together. The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and officials at Lambert have worked closely to land the new flights. The Partnership will support WOW in a marketing plan to promote the service.  

St. Louis County is also playing a role in securing the low-cost flights, which will start at $99 for a one-way ticket.

"We made a smart investment through the St. Louis County Port Authority to provide the key incentives to secure these flights," County Executive Steve Stenger said in a statement. He added that WOW provides more options for people throughout the area who want to travel internationally and business people who have interests overseas.

Many local leaders are hoping the flights increase tourism.

"Europe is one of the largest feeder markets for in-bound international tourists to St. Louis," said Explore St. Louis President Kitty Ratcliffe. "Especially travelers from England, France and Germany." She said they come to the region to take in several attractions including the Gateway Arch and the St. Louis Cardinals.

WOW's announcement is continuing some momentum for the airport. Lambert International officials say flights being added this year include service to Cancun, Mexico, and a second daily flight to San Diego.

WOW will begin service to Iceland on May 17, 2018.

Follow Wayne on Twitter: @WayneRadio

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

Missouri News
Wayne Pratt
Wayne Pratt is a veteran journalist who has made stops at radio stations, wire services and websites throughout North America. He comes to St. Louis Public Radio from Indianapolis, where he was assistant managing editor at Inside Indiana Business. Wayne also launched a local news operation at NPR member station WBAA in West Lafayette, Indiana, and spent time as a correspondent for a network of more than 800 stations. His career has included positions in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Toronto, Ontario and Phoenix, Arizona. Wayne grew up near Ottawa, Ontario and moved to the United States in the mid-90s on a dare. Soon after, he met his wife and has been in the U.S. ever since.
See stories by Wayne Pratt