WOW air, Iceland’s only low-cost airline, has enjoyed an increase in passenger numbers by 49 per cent in June 2015 compared with the same period in 2014.

Some 83,000 passengers travelled with WOW air during the month with passenger load factors also up to 84 per cent, an eight per cent increase over the same period.

Skúli Mogensen, chief executive and founder of WOW air said: “I am very happy with these substantially higher passenger load factors, given with the huge increase in our network over the past year.

“Based on the wonderful reception we have received, it is clear that we will continue to expand and add more destinations next year on both sides of the Atlantic.”

As well as routes to key European cities, such as London (Gatwick), Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin, WOW air has added routes to Boston and Baltimore-Washington in March and May 2015 respectively.

Other new routes to have been launched in the period, all originating at Keflavik, are Billund, Dublin, Rome and Tenerife.

WOW air operates its routes with six aircraft, which includes the new A321 aircraft added to the fleet for the US routes.