14ymedio, Havana, 29 March 2019 — The Icelandic company Wow Air announced on Thursday it was ceasing operations and cancelling all its flights, which includes several flights scheduled from Miami to Cuba. Two flights had been planned for yesterday, one to Santa Clara and the other to Camagüey.
As of last Friday, dozens of Cubans were stranded at the Miami International Airport due to the cancellation of charter flights operated by Wow. The financial problems of the airline have finally forced it to close.
In the statement, the low-cost airline recommends those affected who they bought their tickets with a credit card to contact their bank to see if they qualify for a possible reimbursement.
For those who purchased their ticket through a European agency as part of a tour package, the solution is simpler because they are covered by the Community Directive on travel packages. These passengers can contact their agency to fly with another company.
Those who had a travel insurance contract or have it included in their credit card can access the compensations provided in each case.
It will be more complicated if would-be passengers try to get a refund from the company, due to its closure, although the airline also urges them to take advantage of European regulations on air passengers’ rights, stating that they should address their complaints to the administrator or liquidator of the bankrupt company.
In December of last year, the Institute of Civil Aeronautics of Cuba (IACC) authorized the operations of Wow Air to serve Cuba.
Wow faced heavy debts and had tried to close deals and investments with two companies, Indigo Partners LLC and Icelandair Group, without success.
The airline said in a statement last Sunday that its negotiations with Icelandair Group were canceled after the company decided that “its possible participation in Wow’s operations, as announced on March 20, 2019” would not materialize.
The first cancellations occurred at that time and the final outcome now is the end of all operations.
Founded in 2011, Wow Air operated flights between Iceland, Europe and North America, and last year transported 3.5 million passengers.
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