Latest news with #Hungary-based
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UAE: Low-cost airline Wizz Air to officially exit Abu Dhabi operations by September 1, ending 5 year gulf expansion
Passengers with bookings beyond August 31 will be offered refunds or alternative travel options as Wizz Air ends its Abu Dhabi operations due to operational and market challenges/ Image: (File) TL;DR Wizz Air Abu Dhabi ends all operations from September 1, 2025. Joint venture with ADQ officially dissolved. Passengers booked after August 31 will get refunds or alternatives. Wizz Air shifts focus to European core markets . Wizz Air, the Hungary-based low-cost airline, has announced it will suspend all operations under its Abu Dhabi-based subsidiary, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi , by September 1, 2025. The decision marks the end of a five-year push to establish a low-cost aviation hub in the Gulf region and brings its partnership with the Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company ( ADQ ) to a close. The move will result in the cessation of all Wizz Air flights operating from Zayed International Airport (AUH) after August 31, 2025, effectively eliminating Wizz Air's operational presence in the Gulf. The airline confirmed that passengers with bookings beyond August 31 will be contacted and offered refunds or alternative travel arrangements. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents or third-party platforms have been advised to coordinate directly with their point of purchase. Wizz Air's joint venture with ADQ, launched in 2020, was designed to support Abu Dhabi's broader aviation diversification goals, and the carrier had originally planned to expand to a fleet of 100 aircraft in the region over a 15-year period. However, a combination of economic and operational headwinds forced a strategic rethink. Strategic Withdrawal Driven by Geopolitical, Regulatory, and Operational Challenges The company cited several critical challenges behind its decision to exit the market: Geopolitical instability in the region. Persistent supply chain disruptions, which have particularly affected the aviation sector. Airspace closures that have impacted flight routing. Limited market access and regional regulatory constraints that hindered growth. Ongoing engine performance issues, particularly with Pratt & Whitney engines in hot climates, which have caused dozens of aircraft groundings across Wizz Air's all-Airbus SE fleet. In fact, CEO József Váradi had previously stated that the airline would reduce operations in 'hot and harsh environments,' as these conditions cause accelerated engine wear. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Đây có thể là thời điểm tốt nhất để giao dịch vàng trong 5 năm qua IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo These same maintenance challenges were among the key reasons the airline chose to pull back from Abu Dhabi. 'The operating environment has changed significantly. Supply chain constraints, geopolitical instability, and limited market access have made it increasingly difficult to sustain our original ambitions,' said József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air. He added: 'While this was a difficult decision, it is the right one given the current market dynamics. It will help Wizz Air focus on its core markets and initiatives that improve the airline's customer proposition and build shareholder value.' Impact on Passengers and the Broader Market Wizz Air assured its customers that bookings made for travel after August 31 will be addressed either through refunds or alternative travel solutions. The company emphasized that the suspension affects only flights operated by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, and that other operations across the broader Wizz Air group, such as Wizz Air Malta and Wizz Air UK, will continue as normal. The exit from the Abu Dhabi market also signifies the end of Wizz Air's ambitions to use the UAE capital as a gateway to destinations in Asia, Africa, and Central Europe. Since its establishment in late 2020, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi faced significant obstacles that limited route expansion and stifled plans for broader connectivity. Despite the airline's original plan to scale rapidly, constraints on market access, regional red tape, and limited airspace availability made scaling up nearly impossible. With these compounded issues, the operation remained limited to a small number of destinations, far short of its original vision. Refocus on Europe Amid Operational Realignment Following the wind-down in the Gulf, Wizz Air will intensify its strategic focus on its core markets in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as on selected Western European countries including Austria, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The airline sees these regions as offering greater long-term potential for sustainable growth and profitability. 'This strategic realignment to core markets will enable the Company to redeploy resources to regions with greater long-term potential for sustainable growth and profitability,' the airline said in its official statement. Wizz Air currently operates a fleet of 237 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft and served 63.4 million passengers in fiscal year 2025. The company expects this realignment to optimize its resources and enhance shareholder returns, while reinforcing its footprint in the European market, where it sees stronger demand and fewer regulatory complications. In closing, CEO Váradi acknowledged the contributions of the airline's Gulf-based employees and partners, stating: 'We are grateful to our employees in the UAE and partners in Abu Dhabi for their commitment to building the Wizz Air brand in the region.' FAQs: Q. When will Wizz Air Abu Dhabi stop flying? All flights will end after August 31, 2025. Q. What happens to my ticket after that date? You'll receive a refund or alternative travel option. Q. Why is Wizz Air leaving Abu Dhabi? Due to engine issues, regulatory limits, and geopolitical factors. Q. Does this affect other Wizz Air flights? No, it only impacts Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operations. Q. What if I booked through a travel agent or third-party app? You should contact them directly to manage your booking.
Time Out Dubai
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
Wizz Air suspends several routes from the UAE – here's why
If you're planning a summer escape from low-cost airline Wizz Air, there are some major updates you need to know before you book. The budget carrier is making big changes to its network – and several routes out of the UAE capital are being grounded. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has officially halted ticket sales to Belgrade and Sarajevo, with final flights departing on July 19 and August 31, respectively. These are just two of a number of routes seeing cuts or suspensions as part of a wider operational shake-up. While some of these cuts are temporary, others may be permanent – and Wizz Air hasn't ruled out additional changes. The Airbus A321neo fleet, which services many of the routes, is facing maintenance challenges, particularly in hot and dusty regions like the Middle East. Other affected routes include: Varna – last flight July 14 Tirana – last flight July 20 Kutaisi – last flight July 29 Krakow – paused from July 29 to September 19 Budapest – paused until September 1 Vienna – paused until September 21 Katowice – paused until October 26 Astana & Samarkand – paused until November 1 Sofia and Cluj – already discontinued Credit: Zayed International Airport The airline, which has been the sole operator between Abu Dhabi and both Belgrade and Sarajevo, says the shake-up is partly due to ongoing engine inspection issues. Wizz Air has launched a 24-hour hotline for impacted travellers (+361 677 7530), especially those who booked through third-party sites, which may not have shared passenger contact info with the airline. If your outbound flight is still running but your return leg is cancelled, you may still qualify for a full refund. Launched in 2021, the Abu Dhabi to Belgrade and Sarajevo services were among Wizz Air's key Europe-facing routes, with the Belgrade leg alone flying over 82,000 passengers last year. So if you've got travel plans with Wizz Air this summer, double-check your itinerary – and maybe keep a Plan B on standby. A Wizz Air Abu Dhabi spokesman said: 'In the last few days, we have taken several steps to reach and inform the passengers concerned, but more than two-thirds of them did not book their tickets directly with the airline (but through an online travel agency). 'Therefore, the contact details of these passengers are not available to Wizz Air, as these online ticketing portals do not forward the contact details of the passengers to the airlines. 'If your outbound flight is operating as scheduled, but your return flight (inbound) is cancelled, you may request a full refund for your outbound flight by contacting our regular call centre.' There's an official Wizz Air 24-hour hotline for those affected by UAE flight cancellations at +3616777530 (international roaming charges apply for the Hungary-based number). Travelling soon? Travel experts reveal cheapest day and month to book flights How to save big ahead of your next holiday New Emirates flights from Dubai for 2025 Will you be jetting off soon? 11 new flydubai flights you can book in 2025 Your holiday plans sorted
Time Out Abu Dhabi
09-07-2025
- Business
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
Wizz Air has suspended several flight routes from Abu Dhabi – here's why
If you're planning a summer escape from Abu Dhabi with Wizz Air, there are some major updates you need to know before you book. The low-cost carrier is making big changes to its network – and several routes out of the capital are being grounded. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has officially halted ticket sales to Belgrade and Sarajevo, with final flights departing on July 19 and August 31, respectively. These are just two of a number of routes seeing cuts or suspensions as part of a wider operational shake-up. Other affected routes include: Varna – last flight July 14 Tirana – last flight July 20 Kutaisi – last flight July 29 Krakow – paused from July 29 to September 19 Budapest – paused until September 1 Vienna – paused until September 21 Katowice – paused until October 26 Astana & Samarkand – paused until November 1 Sofia and Cluj – already discontinued While some of these cuts are temporary, others may be permanent – and Wizz Air hasn't ruled out additional changes. The airline, which has been the sole operator between Abu Dhabi and both Belgrade and Sarajevo, says the shake-up is partly due to ongoing engine inspection issues. The Airbus A321neo fleet, which services many of the routes, is facing maintenance challenges, particularly in hot and dusty regions like the Middle East. Wizz Air has launched a 24-hour hotline for impacted travellers (+361 677 7530), especially those who booked through third-party sites, which may not have shared passenger contact info with the airline. If your outbound flight is still running but your return leg is cancelled, you may still qualify for a full refund. Launched in 2021, the Abu Dhabi to Belgrade and Sarajevo services were among Wizz Air's key Europe-facing routes, with the Belgrade leg alone flying over 82,000 passengers last year. So if you've got travel plans with Wizz Air this summer, double-check your itinerary – and maybe keep a Plan B on standby. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi said: 'In the last few days, we have taken several steps to reach and inform the passengers concerned, but more than two-thirds of them did not book their tickets directly with the airline (but through an online travel agency). 'Therefore, the contact details of these passengers are not available to Wizz Air, as these online ticketing portals do not forward the contact details of the passengers to the airlines. 'If your outbound flight is operating as scheduled, but your return flight (inbound) is cancelled, you may request a full refund for your outbound flight by contacting our regular call centre.' There's an official Wizz Air 24-hour hotline for those affected by UAE flight cancellations at +3616777530 (international roaming charges apply for the Hungary-based number). Summer in Abu Dhabi This is *exactly* how long summer will last in Abu Dhabi this year No complaints here The best budget restaurants in Abu Dhabi Big on flavour, low on cost 25 brilliant beach and pool day passes in Abu Dhabi Grab your SPF – a lush day by the water awaits
Irish Independent
08-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Ryanair has lowest CO2 emissions among world's biggest airlines
Among all airlines, it ranks number 20, however, with smaller rival Wizz Air topping the chart. Ryanair – Europe's biggest airline and one of the world's largest – was found by Cirium to emit 63 grammes of CO2 per available seat kilometre during 2024. That was down 1.9pc compared to 2023. Number two on the list of the world's largest airlines was US low-cost carrier Southwest, at 68.9 grammes per available seat kilometre. An available seat kilometre (ASK) is a standard unit of measure within the aviation sector for the total amount of capacity an airline has on offer. Delta was third, with 74.4 grammes per ASK. Cirium said that Ryanair, whose group chief executive is Michael O'Leary, emitted a total of 13.7m tonnes of CO2 last year. Ryanair aims to reduce its CO2 emissions per passenger by 27pc to about 50 grammes by 2031. Based on all the world's major airlines, Ryanair ranked number 20 in the Cirium report, however, with Southwest, Delta and other large global carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and America Airlines not even making the league table. Hungary-based Wizz Air, whose CEO is Jozsef Varadi, topped the overall rankings, emitting 53.9 grammes of CO2 per available seat kilometre last year. US carrier Frontier Airlines was second, with 54.4, while Turkey's Pegasus was third, with 57.1. Member airlines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), whose director general is Willie Walsh, have pledged to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050. ADVERTISEMENT One of the ways in which it's intended that will be achieved is through the use of sustainable aviation fuel. The transition to sustainable aviation fuel will cost as much as $4.7tn (€4trn), with just 0.7pc of airlines' fuel requirements will be sourced from green fuel this year, according to IATA. About two million tonnes of SAF will be produced this year, double the amount in 2024. But total jet fuel consumption will hit 311 million tonnes in 2025. The EU's RefuelEU initiative programme obligates fuel suppliers to blend 2pc SAF into aviation fuel available at all EU airports, with the figure rising to 6pc by 2030 and 70pc by 2050. However, SAF production has not been stimulated sufficiently to meet current and forecast demand.
Business Upturn
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Wizz Air Tops Major Airline Emissions Rankings
Business Wire India Wizz Air is the world's most emissions-efficient airline in new rankings released today by Cirium, the aviation analytics firm. The Cirium Flight Emissions Review ranks the top 20 airlines globally, through a consistent benchmark for flight emissions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: The top 20 Major airlines globally, ranked by lowest CO2/ASK Wizz Air, the Hungary-based ultra-low-cost airline emits an industry low of 53.9 grams of CO₂ per Available Seat Kilometer (ASK)*, followed by Frontier Airlines (54.4 grams) and Pegasus (57.1 grams) according to the report. The rankings provide the aviation industry with verified comparable data on an equal playing field as the sector advances toward Net Zero by 2050 commitments. The rankings performance use Cirium's EmeraldSky platform, which achieved ISAE 3000 Reasonable Assurance from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and official accreditation from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). Wizz Air, Frontier, and Pegasus Top 3; The Top 20 Major Airlines Ranked by CO2 Emissions/ASK The top 20 Major airlines globally are presented in the corresponding tables. Of note is the performance of Indigo, top in Asia, Volaris, top in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Jetstar, for its performance in Australia. The CO2/ASK Emissions of the World's Largest Airlines Cirium's reporting also ranked the 10 largest airlines in the world by ASK. At the head of the table is Ryanair, followed by Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Each of the major U.S. carriers earned spots at the table, while Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airlines and Emirates rounded out a group of primarily long-haul operators. Enabling Fair Comparison Across the Industry 'For the first time, airlines can compare their emissions performance using a consistent, verified methodology,' said Jeremy Bowen, CEO at Cirium. "EmeraldSky provides the industry-standard benchmark that enables fair comparison and meaningful progress tracking." The comprehensive Review analyzed global operations using dual-accredited methodology, with the full report containing extensive findings across: Global Category Rankings showing the top 20 Major airlines and the World's 10 largest airlines by CO₂ per Available Seat Kilometer showing the top 20 Major airlines and the World's 10 largest airlines by CO₂ per Available Seat Kilometer Regional Performance breakdowns showing which airlines excel on intra-region and inter-region routes breakdowns showing which airlines excel on intra-region and inter-region routes Route-Level Improvements identifying specific airport pairs with the greatest efficiency gains identifying specific airport pairs with the greatest efficiency gains Operational Insights revealing how fleet composition, load factors, and route optimization drive performance differences The Review provides comprehensive operational insights that support industry-wide efficiency improvements, offering actionable intelligence for aviation stakeholders committed to sustainability progress. Setting New Industry Transparency Standards EmeraldSky's methodology achieved the highest level of assurance under International Standard on Assurance Engagements through rigorous independent review. The Rocky Mountain Institute's accreditation under the Pegasus Guidelines validates the approach for climate-aligned aviation financing, enabling banks and investors to make informed decisions based on verified emissions data. This standardized approach addresses aviation's fragmented sustainability reporting, where inconsistent methodologies have made meaningful comparisons impossible. The verified benchmark enables airlines to assess their operational efficiency accurately, investors to evaluate performance reliably, and corporations to report Scope 3 emissions with confidence. Quarterly Updates Drive Accountability The Flight Emissions Review will be updated quarterly, tracking performance changes and operational improvements across the industry. With hundreds of data points and detailed analysis across multiple categories, the report provides the most comprehensive view of aviation emissions performance available. Access the Complete Rankings and Analysis The full Flight Emissions Review, including detailed carrier rankings, regional breakdowns, route-specific analysis, and operational insights, is available for download at Notes to Editors * Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) is a metric in the airline industry that represents the total passenger capacity of an airline About Cirium Cirium® is the world's most trusted source of aviation analytics. The company delivers powerful data and cutting-edge analytics to empower a wide spectrum of industry players. It equips airlines, airports, travel enterprises, aircraft manufacturers, and financial entities with the clarity and intelligence they need to optimize their operations, make informed decisions, and accelerate revenue growth. Cirium® is part of LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, a RELX business, which provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. The shares of RELX PLC are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. Download the complete Flight Emissions Review with full rankings, regional analysis, and operational insights at View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India. Business Upturn take no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash
