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Wizz Air

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Wizz Air Hungary Ltd.
IATA ICAO Call sign
W6[1] WZZ Wizz Air
FoundedSeptember 2003
Operating bases
List of bases
Fleet size106
Destinations141
Parent companyWizz Air Holdings plc
Traded asLSE: WIZZ
HeadquartersBudapest, Hungary
Key peopleJózsef Váradi (CEO)
Diederik Pen (COO)
RevenueIncrease €1,571.2 million (2017)[3]
Operating incomeIncrease €246.7 million (2017)[3]
Net incomeIncrease €246 million (2017)[3]
Websitewizzair.com

Wizz Air, legally incorporated as Wizz Air Hungary Ltd. (Template:Lang-hu) and stylised as W!zz Air, is a Hungarian[4] low-cost airline with its head office in Budapest. The airline serves many cities across Europe, as well as some destinations in North Africa and the Middle East.[5] It has the largest fleet of any Hungarian airline, although it is not a flag carrier, and currently serves 44 countries.[5][6] Its Jersey based parent company, Wizz Air Holdings Plc, is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. As of 2018, the airline has its largest hub at Budapest Airport with over 60 destinations. In 2018 the airline transported 33.8 million passengers[7].

History

The airline was established in September 2003. The lead investor is Indigo Partners, an American private equity firm[8] specialising in transportation investments. The first flight was made from Katowice International Airport on 19 May 2004.[9] The airline's CEO is József Váradi, former CEO of Malév Hungarian Airlines. The company is registered in Pest County (Hungary).[10]

On 25 February 2015 Wizz Air started trading on London Stock Exchange.[11]

In November 2017 Wizz Announced that they are planning to launch a British division called Wizz Air UK. The airline is to be based at London Luton, taking advantage of a number of take-off and landing slots acquired from Monarch Airlines when the latter entered administration in 2017.[12] The airline has applied to the CAA for an AOC and Operating Licence. It is expected that the airline will launch operations in March 2018 using British registered aircraft. Wizz Air UK will start to take over the flights to the UK that are currently operated by Wizz Air. Wizz Air said that the airline will employ up to 100 staff by the end of 2018.[13]

In November 2018, it was reported that Wizz Air had announced plans to reactivate its Wizz Air Ukraine subsidiary, approximately three years after it was shut down. Under the plan, Wizz Air Ukraine will seek to complete certification in 2019 following the acquisition of twenty A320/321 neo jets. Bases will be developed in Kyiv as well as other cities across the country. By 2025, it aims to have a passenger throughput of 6 million passengers per annum.[14]

Corporate affairs

Laurus Offices Building B, the head office of Wizz Air
Cabin of a Wizz Air Airbus A320-200
Wizz Air Airbus A320-200 wearing the company's former livery

Head office

The current Head office can be found in Laurus offices (Laurus Irodaház) Building B, Budapest,[15] since March 2016.[16]

Previously, its head office was at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport.[17][18] Wizz Air signed the lease agreement in October 2010 and moved there with 150 employees in June 2011. The airline occupied over 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft) of space in an office building refurbished after the airline's arrival. The facility, with open plan offices, housed about 150 employees.[17]

Prior to the time its head office was at the airport, its head office was in the Airport Business Park C2 in Vecsés, close to the airport.[19]

Operations

Wizz Air prefers to land at smaller or secondary airports to reduce costs and fees. The airline also has a buy on board service called Wizz Café and a shopping service called Wizz Boutique.[20]

Financial performance

While attempting to hasten SkyEurope's demise in June 2009, Wizz Air claimed it had been "profitable for several years".[21] However, as a private company it was not required to publish its financial accounts - annual reports are still available. In November 2009, it emerged that Wizz Air was significantly loss-making and had never made a profit while delaying the pay-back of €32 million of debt by five years.[22] Losses since commencing operations total €78 million, which, in 2009, fueled suggestions that the airline would file for bankruptcy.[23] Since then Wizz Air reported profits in 2012,[24] in 2013, in 2014[25] and in 2015.[3] Wizz Air has the second lowest CASK (cost per available seat km) among European airlines.[25]

Subsidiaries

Current subsidiaries
  • Wizz Air UK[26] was founded on 18 October 2017 as Wizz Air's UK unit, following CAA approval the subsidiary commenced operations with 10 registered aircraft initially. The unit is currently operating flights from and to Luton on behalf of its Hungarian parent and has been set up to ensure Wizz Air retains full market access to the United Kingdom following Brexit.[26]
Former subsidiaries

Destinations

Main article: List of Wizz Air destinations

Wizz Air started new services between Katowice and London Gatwick in 2008.[32] In January 2008, flights started from Gdansk to Gothenburg, Bournemouth and Coventry. In summer 2008, Wizz Air restarted summer seasonal services from Katowice and Budapest to Girona, as well as a new weekly service to Girona from Gdańsk. Other summer services from Budapest are Heraklion, Corfu, Burgas and Varna; from Katowice to Crete-Heraklion and Burgas; and Warsaw to Corfu and Burgas. It also restarted its three-times-weekly service from London Luton Airport to Burgas. On 2 October 2008, Wizz Air announced that a number of its Romanian services would have increased frequency following an order for three Airbus A320 aircraft.[33]

In February 2012, Wizz Air announced that it would start flights from Debrecen International Airport to London, beginning 18 June 2012.[34] On 11 September 2012, Wizz Air announced new routes to and from Tel Aviv, Israel.[35]

On 12 April 2013 Wizz Air announced that it would start flights from Budapest Airport to Baku's Heydar Aliyev International Airport starting from 17 June 2013.[36] On 26 June 2013, Wizz Air announced entry into the Slovakian market, adding one new route from Košice International Airport starting from September 2013.[37]

On 26 June 2015 the airline opened its 19th base, at Tuzla International Airport in Bosnia and Herzegovina and deployed one new Airbus A320 aircraft at the airport. With one aircraft stationed at the airport, Wizz Air opened new routes to Memmingen (near Munich) and Torp (near Oslo), commencing on 26 June 2015, as well as to Hahn (near Frankfurt) and Skavsta (near Stockholm), commencing on 28 June 2015.[38]

In February 2016 Wizz Air announced a new base at David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport (serving Kutaisi in Georgia).[39] In October 2016 Wizz Air announced a new base at Chișinău International Airport (serving Chișinău) in Moldova.[40] In December 2016 Wizz Air announced a new base in Varna, Bulgaria.[41]

In February 2017 Wizz Air announced a new base at London Luton Airport in the United Kingdom.[42] Also in 2017, the company added three new routes, to Tel Aviv, Israel, Pristina in Kosovo, and Kutaisi in Georgia, for a total of over 500 routes.[6]

In January 2018 Wizz Air announced a new base at Vienna International Airport in Austria. Three Airbus 320/321 are planned to be based in Vienna and the company will operate a total of 17 new routes from the Austrian capital.[43]

As of 2018, the airline has its largest hub at Budapest Airport with over 60 destinations worldwide.

In November 2018, the airline announced it would open a base at Kraków John Paul II International Airport in Poland, starting with 12 routes.[44]

Top airports by destinations 2019
City IATA destinations retention[a]
Budapest BUD 70 32,25%
London Luton LTN 58 n/a
Warsaw Chopin WAW 48 n/a
Bucharest OTP 45 n/a
Katowice KTW 41 n/a

Fleet

Wizz Air Airbus A320-200 in new livery
Wizz Air Airbus A321-200

Wizz Air began operations with a fleet of Airbus A320 jets. In November 2015, it began operating its first Airbus A321, with a further expansion of this model in their fleet as well.[45][46] All aircraft were acquired as new from Airbus, under financial leasing arrangements from various companies worldwide, among which: DAE Capital, GECAS, Cheung Kong, ICBC, Goshawk Aviation, Avolon, CCB Financial Leasing[47] or CDB Aviation[48].[49][50]

As of July 2018, the Wizz Air fleet consists of the following aircraft:[51]

Wizz Air fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Airbus A320-200 72 — 180[52]
5 Operated by Wizz Air UK
Airbus A320neo — 72 186[53]
Airbus A321-200 34 7 230[52]
4 Operated by Wizz Air UK
Airbus A321neo — 184 239[54] Deliveries from 2019 to 2026
Total 106 263

With 263 aircraft on order, Wizz Air has the largest orderbook among European airlines, above Norwegian Air with 126.[55]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 8 June 2013, Wizz Air Flight 3141, an Airbus A320-232 (registration HA-LWM) from Bucharest - Henri Coandă Airport, Romania to Rome-Ciampino, Italy, made an emergency landing[56] at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport when the crew encountered problems lowering one of the main undercarriages and locking it into position. The aircraft diverted to Fiumicino because of the longer runway, and firefighters applied foam after landing as a precautionary measure. The aircraft was evacuated using slides.[57] Initial reports of injured passengers were denied by both Wizz Air and Rome Fiumicino Airport, who said some passengers requested medical checkups but reported no injuries.[58]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ share of routes operated in 2007-2017 still operating in 2017

References

  1. ^ "IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search". iata.org. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Wizz Air will fly from Krakow. Cheap carrier will open 12 routes from the capital of Lesser Poland". businessinsider.com.pl. 21 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Annual Results 2017" (PDF). Wizz Air. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Hungarian Wizz Air Opens Fifth Hub in Poland". Business Week. Archived from the original on 2008-02-09. Retrieved 2008-03-20. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b "Wizz Air". wizzair.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Wizz Air profits soar amid strong demand for eastern European flights". The Irish News. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  7. ^ "Traffic statistics". corporate.wizzair.com. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  8. ^ "Ryanair meets Wizz Air: does a merger make sense?". 2009-07-08. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  9. ^ "Wizz Air celebrates 10th birthday and 69 million passengers". Anna Aero. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Company information (official registration number 13-09-096209)". Archived from the original on 12 March 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE TODAY WELCOMED WIZZ AIR HOLDINGS PLC". 25 February 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  12. ^ "Wizz Air Acquires Additional Slots At London Luton". Wizzair.com. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  13. ^ "Wizz Air Prepares for Brexit". Airliner World. 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  14. ^ "Wizz Air to reactivate Ukrainian subsidiary".
  15. ^ "Company Information". Wizz Air. Retrieved 2018-10-28. Laurus Offices | Kőér street 2/A | Building B | H-1103 | Budapest, Hungary
  16. ^ "Wizz Air is newest major tenant in Erste Group Immorent's Laurus Offices in Budapest". erstegroup.com. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Property development." (Archive, also see image) Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport. Retrieved on 11 December 2011.
  18. ^ "Company overview." Wizz Air. Retrieved on 11 December 2011. "Wizz Air Hungary Airlines Ltd. BUD International Airport Building 221 H-1185 Budapest"
  19. ^ "Company information". Retrieved 2009-10-25. "Wizz Air Hungary Airlines Ltd. Airport Business Park C2, Lőrinci út 59 2220 Vecsés, Hungary"
  20. ^ "Wizz Café and Wizz Boutique." Wizz Air. Retrieved on 3 February 2012.
  21. ^ "While SkyEurope is sinking, Wizz Air is stretching wings". 29 June 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  22. ^ "Maďarský Wizz Air skončil v desaťmiliónovej strate". 2009-11-26.
  23. ^ "WizzAir suffers €9.5 million in losses". 27 November 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  24. ^ "Why Europe's second lowest cost producer may be looking for fresh capital". 3 April 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  25. ^ a b "CAPA Profiles Wizz Air: growing at 15% annually, one of Europe's most profitable airlines "not desperate" for IPO". 19 September 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  26. ^ a b "WIZZ AIR APPLIES FOR UK AIR OPERATOR CERTIFICATE". Wizz Air Hungary Ltd. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Wizz Air Bulgaria - ch-aviation.com". ch-aviation. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  28. ^ a b "Wizz Air Romania - ch-aviation.com". ch-aviation. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  29. ^ "WIZZ AIR UKRAINE ANNOUNCES 3RD LOW FARES BASE". wizzair.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  30. ^ "WIZZ AIR FURTHER RESTRUCTURES UKRAINIAN OPERATIONS". wizzair.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ "Wizz Air further expands Ukraine network in W18". Routesonline. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  32. ^ "Wizz Air launches London Gatwick – Katowice flight". 2007-08-09. Archived from the original on 2010-03-06. Retrieved 2008-05-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ "Wizz Air adds three new A320 aircraft and doubles capacity in Romania – 15 new routes in the next six months". Archived from the original on 2010-03-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "Wizz Air begins flights between Debrecen and London from 18 June 2012".
  35. ^ "Wizz Air Launches Low Fares to/from Israel".
  36. ^ "WIZZ AIR ENTERS AZERBAIJAN". wizzair.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  37. ^ "Wizz Air will start the route Košice-London in September! - Airport Košice". airportkosice.sk. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  38. ^ "Wizz Air to establish its 19th base at Tuzla in Bosna-Herzegovina". Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  39. ^ "Wizz Air opens base at Kutaisi International Airport". Agenda.ge. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  40. ^ "Wizz Air announces 26th base in Chisinau, Moldova". Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  41. ^ "Wizz Air announces 27th base in Varna, Bulgaria". Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  42. ^ "Wizz Air announces UK base London Luton". Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  43. ^ "WIZZ AIR ANNOUNCES AUSTRIAN BASE IN VIENNA WITH 3 BASED AIRCRAFT AND 17 NEW LOW-FARE ROUTES". Wizzair.com. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  44. ^ "Wizz Air will fly from Krakow. Cheap carrier will open 12 routes from the capital of Lesser Poland". businessinsider.com.pl. 21 November 2018.
  45. ^ https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/about-us/news/2015/11/24/wizz-air-begins-operating-its-first-airbus-a321ceo-#/
  46. ^ https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/about-us/news/2016/01/04/wizz-air-shareholders-approve-proposed-purchase-of-110-airbus-a321-neo-aircraft#/
  47. ^ https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/about-us/news/2015/11/25/wizz-air-announces-first-lease-with-china-s-ccb-financial-leasing-#/
  48. ^ https://wizzair.com/ro-ro/informatii-si-servicii/despre-noi/noutati/2016/05/25/wizz-air-anun%C5%A3%C4%83-o-colaborare-cu-cdb-leasing-pentru-aeronave-a321#/
  49. ^ https://www.planespotters.net/production-list/search?fleet=Wizz-Air-Hungary&manufacturer=Airbus&subtype=A320-200&fleetStatus=current
  50. ^ https://www.planespotters.net/production-list/search?fleet=Wizz-Air-Hungary&manufacturer=Airbus&subtype=A321-200&fleetStatus=current
  51. ^ Airbus Orders and Deliveries (XLS), accessed via "Orders & Deliveries". Airbus. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  52. ^ a b "Welcome to the world of opportunity! - Wizz Air". wizzair.com.
  53. ^ "Geven's Essenza slimline selected by Wizz Air, Lufthansa for A320neos - Runway Girl". 10 April 2018.
  54. ^ "Wizz Air firms-up order for 110 A321neo aircraft" (Press release). Airbus. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  55. ^ "Europe's airlines: Who's growing fastest? Look at fleet orders". CAPA Centre for Aviation. 1 May 2018.
  56. ^ "Wizzair W6 3141 Bucharest – Rome emergency landing". planecrashes.org. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  57. ^ Andrew Frye (8 June 2013). "Wizz Air Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Rome". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  58. ^ "Wizz Air jet makes safe emergency landing in Rome". Yahoo News. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2015.

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