Today marks the beginning of the first scheduled flights between Ireland and Iceland, when the inaugural WOW air flight takes off from Dublin Airport this morning.

Iceland’s low-cost carrier, WOW air, announced its intention to fly from Ireland earlier this year and beginning today, will operate flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik.

The flight time is just two hours and 20 minutes with fares as low as €79 one way to Iceland and according to WOW air CEO Skuli Mogensen, bookings on the new route from Ireland ‘have exceeded expectations’.

‘We made the decision to operate a service from Ireland because we were confident that Iceland would appeal to the Irish. We weren’t wrong. Bookings on this new route are very strong from Dublin Airport and the demand has been stronger than expected in the first few months. Equally, Ireland is appealing to the Icelandic as a short break over the coming months.

‘We’re delighted to be the first airline to offer direct flights between Ireland and Iceland, given the many similarities between our countries. We look forward to welcoming the Irish to Iceland, ‘he said.

WOW air was founded by Icelandic serial entrepreneur Skuli in November 2011.

Last February, on a visit to Dublin, Mr Mogensen announced that the airline is to become the first low-cost carrier to fly to the USA from Dublin, with a new low fare for Irish passengers via Reykjavik.

The airline will fly to Boston and Washington D.C. , via Reykjavik Iceland, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, offering the cheapest connection between Dublin and North America.

Fares as low as €197* one way to Boston and €200* one way to Washington DC can be found on www.wowair.ie

Dublin Airport Managing Director, Vincent Harrison said he was delighted to welcome WOW air to Ireland and to add Reykjavik to Dublin Airport’s growing list of direct destinations.

‘Iceland is a very popular tourist destination with lots to offer. I’m sure this new direct service will prove popular with both Irish people holidaying in Iceland and with Icelandic residents visiting Ireland for business and pleasure,” he said.

“We will work closely with Wow air to promote this new service and the enhanced connectivity that it brings in both Iceland and Ireland.”

Summer months offer Iceland’s summer visitors up to 24 hours sunlight to enjoy its famous hot springs and colourful summer festival calendar, while darker winter months offer tourists a chance to catch a glimpse of the breath taking Northern Lights.

The airline celebrated its one millionth passenger milestone, in December 2014.