We've written extensively about Primera Air, which has launched transatlantic flights within the past few months. The airline has had an unusual growth strategy (which James wrote about in great detail in the post linked above), and they seem to just be throwing darts and seeing what sticks, as they've announced transatlantic flights between so…
Continue reading: WOW: Primera Air Allegedly Filing For Bankruptcy
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Hate to say I told you so!
I never did find out what that $70 pre ordered meal looked like...
wow recently took this flight from london to newark.
I requested to have my prepaid meal (which I did not get served on flight) refunded!
seems like I will not get my money back.. 🙁
Umm... the writer asked you to keep this to yourself until official notification from the owner tonight, and you post it on the blog?
I find it sad. These LCC's really disrupted the market and brought down fares considerably. At this point, all seem to be in trouble... Norwegian also cutting routes, etc.
I hope they make it somehow!
I know a pilot working there who lost his job when Monarch Airlines went insolvent exactly a year ago tomorrow morning.
Strategy and management issues aside, I feel for the staff and crew of Primera.
@ Mitch – This email is already circulating around the entire industry – the "original" recipients were Primera Air staff, which Lucky (based solely on the tone of the post) isn't part of. So yes, there's that one person, that one Primera Air staff out there who snitched on the writer to the entire airline industry, but that person wasn't Lucky.
The airline industry is very competitive, capital intensive, has high and unpredictable costs (labor, fuel), is heavily regulated. In addition, it is difficult to differentiate your product, and most airlines compete on price. Why are so many people attempting to start airlines?
I have 2 booked flights with them. Any idea on how this works regarding refunds?
this link is now on their web site: https://primeraair.com/about-us/corporate-news/ceases-operations/
It's over
The irony is that on the website Jason linked above, right next to the message on Ceasing Operations, is their announcement of new routes to Madrid and Frankfurt at an attractive rate less than a month ago.
Could all the new route announcements recently be them hoping to get bookings so that they could stay afloat? Free loans to finance themselves for a bit. Just a theory.
Recommend changing title from WOW to Oh!
Wow is the name of a low cost airline.
I had a transatlantic flight cancelled by them at the last-minute. I got the fare refunded (luckily) a few weeks ago, but never got the EU flight reimbursement. Guess I never will.
Pretty crazy they just completely shut down no notice nothing think of all the people flying them over the next week who are now screwed
This is how a racket airline operation works:
1) Announce a flurry of routes
2) Sell lots of tickets
3) Use the incoming $$$ to pay your executives big salaries
4) When time comes to actually provide air transportation, declare bankruptcy
5) Executives laugh at "gullible tourists"
Is it just me, or is this notification also full of loads of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors? Someone couldn't be bothered to use spell check?
Well, yes, and horrible news for people stranded now!
It's good to be ambitious, but I think they should have waited abit longer, received their planes and roosted them on local charters before long haul launch. Especially given the engine issues with the A320neo family they should have allowed for some buffering.
This doesn't come as much of a suprise given that they had One way transatlantic fares of €63 or sth.
If you have booked with Primera and used a credit card to pay the fare, I suggest contacting the card issuer and asking if they will issue you a refund. Friends were able to do this successfully with airberlin tickets when they went bankrupt.
My mother us set to fly with them tomorrow morning 2nd of October from Gothenburg to Southern Italy , guess that will not happen ....
I used that airline on two occasions to travel from Newark to Stansted. Very cheap operation. The second time the flight was canceled without any notice. Had to put people in hotel until next day. There were some people in line commenting about the operations and bankruptcy was coming. Sad to see them go because other airlines to Stansted from Newark is nonexistent.
they've ceased operation stranding passengers. Was thinking of booking them, glad I didn't
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45712063
I just got to IAD and they canceled the flight. They didn't notify me in advance and there is no one here to get me rebooted. What are my options to get back to Stansted?
As noted already, may I suggest changing the headline. At first reading, I thought it was WOW airlines that was going belly up.
I recently did their STN-EWR flight in the new A321.
Upgraded to their premium cabin in the airport - only to find out on the plane that it had been seriously overbooked. Guess I will never see that money again...
Eight hours onboard a narrow-body aircraft, with no entertainment system or even a free cup of water, originally designed for short to medium-haul flights, is insane. It is basically eight hours of Ryanair.
The end of cheap credit and oil prices going up will be bad news for a lot of airlines.
Not surprised at all. One of these “low cost long haul” combos was going to go under sooner or later.
WOW came within a few days a few weeks ago and just secured a $54m bond to keep flying (they wanted $100m) and so have enough to survive for around 18 months, all things remains equal. Norwegian had to sell assets and do a private stock placement in March to survive, and they’ll probably post a profit for Q3 to give them enough to at least survive the year and probably to March unless the economy tanks.
So that left Primera. The question is, does Primera’s collapse take enough dirt cheap capacity out of the market for the others to survive? Maybe, but overall they were a very small fish.
They may get a short term benefit as a result of those stranded needing the cheapest possible flights to get home, plus those who lost tickets and need to book again. A well known British journalist (Simon Calder) estimates uo to 5,000 stranded and up to 60,000 with lost tickets. If they do smart revenue management and offer fares “low enough” to secure those affected pax without completely dropping their pants on fares, they could be a short term beneficiary.
The Elon Musk of airline’s - over promised and under delivered. Flew a few BHX services with wet lease antiques and then abandoned us. Good riddance.
Still stuck here at IAD. There haven't been any Primera staff anywhere and they're not answering the phone. Can anyone help me get back to Stansted? I don't want to spend another night here.
@Stranded in the swap, a really long route would be: get to bos, take the terrible Azores airlines to Ponta Delagada, and then Ryanair to Stansted
Stranded in the Swamp - first seat you can get to LHR, Tube to Liverpool Street, Stansted Express train.
Get to Boston and then buy 2 more flights? First seat to LHR? Are you nuts? United was asking $1700 for a seat and BA wanted even more. I don't have those kind of funds. I paid £149 for the Primera ticket.
Wow will do Baltimore to Stansted via KEF for £349 one way tomorrow at the time of posting. Otherwise it’s a long swim. Good luck.