Wizz Air to restart key routes and address engine setbacks with new agreement

Wizz Air, Hungary’s budget airline, is set to resume several flights that were paused due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

By: dailynewshungary.com

Jan 02 2025
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Wizz Air to restart key routes

Wizz Air, Hungary’s budget airline, is set to resume several flights that were paused due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Tel Aviv flights to resume

Starting 15 January, the airline will restart its operations between Tel Aviv and ten other destinations, including Athens, Vienna, Bucharest, Abu Dhabi, Rome, Milan, London, Warsaw, Krakow, and Budapest. This move follows an earlier announcement in October that Wizz Air would suspend its Israel-bound flights until January. However, the airline had already resumed some routes, such as the Tel Aviv-Larnaca service, in December.

Despite this positive development, not all airlines are following suit. Several foreign carriers have yet to announce the restart of their flights to Israel, hesitating amid the current geopolitical climate, NeoKohn writes.

Problems with Pratt & Whitney engines

At the same time, Wizz is addressing technical challenges involving its fleet. The airline recently reached an agreement with Pratt & Whitney, its engine supplier, to tackle issues arising from the detection of microscopic cracks in more than 1,000 engines. As part of the deal, Wizz Air expects to keep around 40 aircraft grounded until the end of its 2026 financial year. The airline will receive commercial support from Pratt & Whitney to mitigate the impact of this setback, including operational assistance and compensation for the direct costs of the grounded planes, Reuters reports.

Wizz Air’s financial performance affected

These challenges have affected Wizz Air’s financial performance. In November, the airline reported a more significant-than-expected decrease in profits for the first half of the year, largely due to the engine issues and the repercussions of the Middle Eastern conflict. Despite these setbacks, Wizz Air remains optimistic. The airline is preparing for the delivery of 50 new Airbus A321NEO aircraft and plans to increase its seat capacity by around 20% in 2026.

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