Abu Dhabi | May 3, 2020-Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe and Europe’s greenest airline*, announced today five new routes from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH). The routes will connect the capital of United Arab Emirates with Budapest and Bucharest from June 2020 and with Cluj-Napoca, Katowice and Sofia from September 2020, subject to aviation activities being resumed in the respective countries. Wizz Air becomes the first European Low Cost carrier to launch flights to Abu Dhabi.
This announcement supplements the agreement in March formalising the establishment of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi as a local airline based in Abu Dhabi in partnership between ADQ and Wizz Air. It is Wizz Air’s first airline established outside of Europe, and is expected to begin operations later this year.
It is intended that Wizz Air will focus on establishing routes to markets in which Wizz Air has existing, high growth operations, namely Central and Eastern and Western Europe, as well as the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Africa, over the long run.
Shareef Al Hashmi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, commented: “Wizz Air’s new routes to Budapest, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Katowice and Sofia highlights our commitment to connecting Abu Dhabi with the most sought after global destinations. These new routes positively reflect the industry’s resilience and its capability to continue pushing forward with bold plans that will stimulate consumer demand and the sustained recovery of the aviation market. As our newest landing partner, we welcome Wizz Air and its first routes with open arms as we get set to facilitate the carrier’s exciting Abu Dhabi expansion plans. Visitors from Hungary, Romania, Poland and Bulgaria can look forward to enjoying our modern terminal facilities with a unique brand of Arabian hospitality before seamlessly heading out to experience the UAE’s thriving capital city, Abu Dhabi.”
József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air Holdings said: “Today’s announcement underpins our long term dedication to bringing low fares combined with a high quality onboard experience to ever more customers in Abu Dhabi. I am delighted that our operations at Abu Dhabi International Airport will begin in June, subject to lifting the travel bans, connecting the capital of the United Arab Emirates with five major cities of Central and Eastern Europe as Budapest, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Katowice and Sofia. We are convinced that our passengers will appreciate the convenient flight schedules, the easy online booking system and the wide range of tailor-made travel options Wizz Air offers. Wizz Air’s mission feeds into Abu Dhabi’s diversified economic strategy as we continue to stimulate traffic by creating demand to the benefit of growing Abu Dhabi’s touristic and economic diversity. We look forward to welcoming passengers on board our young, green and ultra-efficient fleet, while we pay extra attention to the health and well-being of our passengers and crew.”
Abu Dhabi is Wizz Air’s newest destination, attracting many passengers from five major cities of four biggest countries of Central and Eastern Europe. These services will be the first direct routes between the capital of the United Arab Emirates and Budapest, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Katowice and Sofia adding an almost 220 thousand seat capacity to the airline’s Abu Dhabi network per year. Flights are already on sale and can be booked at wizzair.com from as low as EUR 59.99**. In the case of travel bans, imposed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, impacting the start date of the flights, the passengers with bookings for the affected flights will have a chance to rebook for a later date, get full cash refund or 120% of the value of the booking in WIZZ Credit that can be used for purchase of WIZZ flights and services.
Safety measures
As passenger and crew safety has always been Wizz Air’s top priority, the airline has recently announced several additional measures to support physical distancing during boarding and enhanced cleanliness on board. The measures are easy to follow and help ensure the most sanitary conditions.
The airline asks passengers to handle bookings online where possible, including online check-in, baggage drop-off as well as opting in for contactless payment during onboard purchases. Wearing masks onboard is obligatory for crew and passengers, thus all are reminded to travel in masks.
The aircraft is thoroughly cleaned several times a day and is disinfected overnight, the crew will also handout sanitizing pads to passengers at boarding as well as will observe seat distancing for passengers on flights where the load factor allows.
Wizz Air is also launching a special information campaign to inform passengers about current development in the context of COVID-19 and provide useful tips for a safe journey.
Hamburg, Germany | March 7, 2019– Wizz Air, the largest Central and Eastern European low-cost carrier, has taken delivery of its first of 184 A321neo aircraft on order at an event in Hamburg, with József Váradi, CEO Wizz Air and Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer.
The new generation aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and features the widest single-aisle cabin with 239 seats in a single class configuration and offers operators maximum flexibility, fuel efficiency and low operating costs.
Wizz Air is an all-Airbus operator, with more than 100 A320 Family aircraft operating all around Europe, with 261 more to be delivered. With 184 of the larger A321neo aircraft on order, Wizz Air is the largest Airbus customer worldwide of the type.
The A320neo and its derivative aircraft family members are the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft with over 6,500 orders from over 100 customers since its launch in 2010. It has pioneered and incorporated the latest technologies, including its new generation engines and the industry’s reference cabin design, delivering 20% fuel cost savings alone. The A320neo also offers significant environmental benefits with nearly a 50% reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft.
- Family orders top 4,300 aircraft
Toulouse, France | September 14, 2015– Wizz Air, the largest low cost carrier serving Eastern and Central Europe, has firmed-up a commitment signed in June at Le Bourget International Paris airshow for 110 A321neo aircraft. The agreement is the largest single order for the popular A321neo ever. The deal pushes firm NEO orders above 4,300 aircraft. This order includes the latest A321neo Airbus Cabin Flex configuration with 239 seats in 18 inch comfort standard.
Currently Wizz Air operates 63 A320 Family aircraft on one of Central and Eastern Europe’s most extensive networks with over 380 routes from 22 bases.
“This order will help us to build on our strong market position in Central and Eastern Europe. It also provides significant flexibility to match our fleet to our growth requirements,” said József Váradi, Wizz Air Chief Executive Officer. “The new aircraft will enable us to sustain our cost advantage through cabin innovations, the latest engine technology and other efficiency improvements, while enhancing our customer offering and experience. Airbus is a key partner for us and we believe they have the best aircraft to serve our markets and we are happy to be continuing our longstanding relationship with them.”
“We are extremely happy Wizz Air has confirmed its confidence in our A320 Family. The A320neo Family which includes the A321neo deliver unbeatable productivity and fuel efficiency allowing Wizz Air to expand its network and services, ’’ said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers ‘’The A320 Family offers the lowest operating cost and the highest passenger comfort with the widest roomiest cabin which also helps with faster airport turnaround times”.
The A320neo Family aircraft offers the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft delivering 15 per cent fuel burn reduction at entry into service, and 20 per cent by 2020, achieved through cabin innovations, latest engine technologies, and overall efficiency improvements.
With one aircraft in three sizes (A319neo, A320neo & A321neo), the A320neo Family, seating from 100 to 240 passengers, seamlessly covers the entire single-aisle segment from low to high-density configurations on domestic to longer range routes. To date, Airbus has sold more than 12,200 single aisle CEO and NEO aircraft and delivered over 6,700 CEO to more than 300 operators worldwide.
Single largest A321 order
France | June 18, 2015– Wizz Air, the largest low cost carrier serving Eastern and Central Europe, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the biggest single order for the popular A321neo aircraft. The deal signed at the 51st Le Bourget International Paris Air Show pushes NEO orders and commitments beyond 4,000. Significantly the order includes the latest A321neo Airbus Cabin Flex configuration with 239 seats in 18 inch comfort standard.
Currently Wizz Air operates 61 aircraft on one of Central and Eastern Europe’s most extensive networks with over 380 routes from 22 bases.
“Thanks to our rapidly growing A320 fleet, we’ve become one of Europe’s leading carriers,” said Jozsef Varadi, CEO of Wizz Air. “The A321neo is clearly the leading single aisle aircraft and the best platform regarding operating economics to support our ambitious growth plans.”
“We are thrilled by this new order,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “The success of Wizz Air with its all Airbus fleet is a great endorsement of the A321’s unmatched efficiency. Its unbeatable economics combined with its compelling passenger appeal will deliver Wizz Air even better financial returns on their investment.”
The A320neo Family aircraft offers the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft delivering 15% fuel burn reduction at entry into service, and 20% by 2020, achieved through cabin innovations, latest engine technologies, and overall efficiency improvements.
With one aircraft in three sizes (A319neo, A320neo & A321neo), the A320neo Family, seating from 100 to 240 passengers, seamlessly covers the entire single-aisle segment from low to high-density configurations on domestic to longer range routes. To date, the A320 Family has won more than 11,700 orders and over 6,500 aircraft delivered to more than 300 operators worldwide.