Wizz Air (W6/WZZ) turns 20 years old in 2023. The story of the pan-European ultra low cost carrier is one of rapid expansion, low fares and standardization. Let’s take a look at a short history of Wizz Air.
From one airline to four
Established in September 2003 by József Váradi, Wizz Air went on to make its maiden flight from Katowice International Airport (KTW) to London Luton Airport (LTN) on May 19, 2004. Váradi had previously led the troubled Hungarian flag carrier Malev. Wizz Air was initially established as a Hungarian airline operating a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, but the footprint of the carrier has expanded well beyond Eastern Europe.
Wizz Air grew consistently over the following decade and had carried over 15 million passengers and received its 50th Airbus A320 by the time of its 10th birthday. The airline was listed on the London Stock Exchange the following year in February 2015. The airline has expanded beyond its initial Hungarian registered operation to hold multiple Air Operators Certificates (AOCs). As of late 2023 these are Wizz Air Hungary (W6/WZZ), Wizz Air UK (W9/WUK), Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (5W/WAZ) and Wizz Air Malta (W4/WMT). Wizz Air’s Maltese AOC was granted in September 2022.
Rapid expansion in tough times
In addition to an overall culture of expansion, Wizz Air stands out as one of the few airlines to prosper and grow throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. Their liquidity (high level of available cash) allowed the airline to enter a phase of rapid growth in both their fleet and network. Firstly, Wizzair developed tools that allowed passengers to navigate the confusing Covid travel landscape, including a dynamic travel restrictions map. Secondly, they eyed up opportunities to leverage the boom in global air freight (despite having no previous experience in cargo). Finally, they took these actions whilst keeping a very close eye on the bottom line.
A single-minded fleet focus
Hemogeney in an airline’s fleet is by no means unique to Wizz Air, but the carrier is a good example of a single type fleet in action. From the outset, Wizz Air has committed itself as an Airbus operator. Despite commencing operations with the Airbus A320, Wizzair’s continued growth in capacity opened the door to the Airbus A321, with Wizz Air ensuring they could fill more seats on more of their routes. More recently, Wizz Air has committed to becoming an A321neo only operator, and placed an order for 75 A321neo jets in August 2023. The increasing proliferation of the A321neo across Wizz Air’s network has also had a positive impact on the airline’s carbon footprint. According to the airline, their fleet generated 56.5g CO2 per passenger per kilometer in May 2019. Wizz Air plans to reduce emissions per passenger by a third by 2030. Whilst these are positive figures overall, it’s important to note that a high capacity new generation aircraft will always be more efficient on a per seat per kilometer basis, so this isn’t always the fairest measure for fleet efficiency.
How does Wizz Air differ from other low cost carriers?
On the face of it, low cost carriers in Europe can seem one and the same. In reality, subtle differences in everything from business model to routes make them notably different. Here are 3 key differences.
- Business model. Wizz Air is an ‘Ultra’ Low Cost Carrier (ULCC). The main difference is that ULCCs rely even more heavily on ancillary fees (baggage, meals, etc) to generate revenue. Low cost carriers strike a balance between low fares and a relatively more traditional travel experience. Though the difference between these gets smaller by the day as the market gets tougher.
- Geography. Wizz Air has a strong focus on Eastern and Central Europe. It primarily serves airports in these regions and connects them to destinations within Europe and beyond. The airline’s network extends to many countries in Eastern Europe, including Hungary, Poland, and Romania. The airline formerly had a strong presence in Ukraine and says it plans to return as soon as possible. Another low cost carrier EasyJet, on the other hand, has a more extensive network that covers a wider range of European destinations, including Western and Northern Europe. While it also serves some airports in Eastern Europe, its primary focus is on connecting cities in Western and Northern Europe. Low cost carriers often compete with legacy carriers more than each other.
- Secondary airports. Ultra low cost carriers such as Wizz Air are often even more heavily focussed on smaller, secondary airports that traditional low cost carriers.
Wizz Air Today
Today, Wizz Air stands as one of Europe’s leading low-cost carriers. With a vast network spanning over 40 countries, it serves more than 160 destinations, making it a popular choice for both leisure and business travelers.
| Aircraft | Number in fleet |
|---|---|
| Airbus A320neo | 6 |
| Airbus A321neo | 99 |
| Airbus A320 | 42 |
| Airbus A321 | 41 |
Cover photo: Grzesiek Krupa, JetPhotos.
