Wizz Air, Hungary’s low-cost carrier, recently announced significant changes during an online press conference led by their CEO, József Váradi. These changes include new routes, increased flights, and additional bases, all aimed at increasing profitability.

Expansion of the Budapest Base and Increased Seats

Váradi shared that the Budapest base, which currently has a fleet of 17 aircraft, will expand to 18 with the addition of one more plane. The company’s 9,500 employees, of which 40% are based in Budapest, will also see growth. This year, Wizz Air expects to transport 72 million passengers, a 75-80% increase from pre-pandemic levels.

Improved Punctuality and Ongoing Market Monitoring

Flight punctuality has improved by 21%, with long delays over three hours falling to just 0. 6%. While no new routes were announced from Debrecen, Váradi assured that the market will continue to be monitored. Additionally, capacity on Hungarian routes is expected to rise to 9. 1 million seats in 2026, a 10% increase.

Expansion to New Destinations and Opening of Additional Bases

Wizz Air currently serves 75 routes from Hungary to 35 countries, with plans to increase this number to 100. New bases will be opened in Kishinev, Tuzla, Yerevan, and secondary airports in Warsaw and Bucharest. Bases will also launch in Bratislava and Podgorica, reinforcing the company’s commitment to Central and Eastern Europe.

Moderated Growth and Encouragement for Investors

Váradi announced a new target of 10-12% growth, moderating the previously planned 15% increase. He also encouraged investors to purchase Wizz Air shares.

Additional Routes and Increased Frequencies

Several new routes have been announced, including Tallinn, Billund, Skopje, Bergen, Lamezia Terme, and Rimini. Flight frequency will also increase for several other routes, such as Budapest to Warsaw, Marrakesh, Lisbon, Stuttgart, Tel Aviv, Bilbao, Alicante, Bari, Baku, Hurghada, Brasov, Sharm El Sheikh, Madrid, and Antalya.

Engine Issues Impacting the Airline

Wizz Air currently operates 910 routes to 40 countries and 200 destinations, using 36 bases in 18 countries. Their fleet consists of 249 Airbus aircraft, but 35 are currently grounded due to engine problems, which are not expected to be resolved until the end of 2027. As a result, no further narrow-body long-haul A321XLR aircraft will be added, and newly acquired planes will be allocated to the UK market to serve British tourism to the Middle East.

Prioritizing Profitability and Potential Route Closures

Wizz Air consistently prioritizes profitability, which means any routes that do not meet expectations