Discount airline offering low-cost flights from Canada to Europe

Skuli Mogensen, founder and CEO WOW air, Iceland's only ultra low-cost airline, announced Thursday that the airline will begin service to Iceland from Toronto and Montreal in May 2016. (CNW Group/WOW air)

A discount airline from Iceland says it is flying into the Canadian market, offering deeply discounted fares on flights to Europe from Toronto and Montreal.

WOW Air, which bills itself as a “high performance low-cost” carrier, is offering one-way flights from Canada to Reykjavik for as little as $99, all taxes and fees included.

From there, it's $149 for a one-way flight to other major cities in Europe, including London, Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Dublin. Service from Montreal will begin May 12, and Toronto services will begin May 20.

Skúli Mogensen -- the sole owner and CEO of WOW Air -- says his airline, which is known for its quirky purple logo and staff uniforms, wants to offer “the biggest smile and the friendliest service” as well as the lowest fares.

"I'm thrilled to now announce our new routes to Canada, especially as I lived in Montreal for nearly a decade and also because the Icelandic people feel a special affinity for Canada."

WOW Air launched in November, 2011, and carries travellers from 20 destinations across Europe and the U.S. to Reykjavik.

The airline’s expansion into the Canadian market follows the launch of transatlantic services from Boston and Washington, D.C. earlier this year.

WOW says its entry into Canada will create about 100 jobs at Toronto's Pearson International Airport and Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.