Wizz Air Exits Abu Dhabi Operations

Low-cost airline Wizz Air announced on Monday that it will suspend all flight operations based in Abu Dhabi. The airline stated that the decision, effective from September 1 this year, is part of a planned realignment aimed at focusing on Central and Eastern Europe, as well as select markets in Western Europe.

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, a joint venture established between Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company and Wizz Air Holdings, began its operations in January 2021 with a fleet composed of four Airbus aircraft. The airline initially intended to grow its fleet in the region to 100 aircraft over the next 15 years. The Hungarian carrier group, headquartered in Budapest, expanded first into Western Europe before opening a base in the emirate. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operated over 19,000 flights in 2024, providing more than 4.4 million ultra-low-cost seats and carrying more than 3.5 million point-to-point passengers.

The airline cited a combination of geopolitical turmoil and engine reliability constraints as the main reasons for its exit from the emirate. In a statement released on X, Wizz Air said that engine reliability constraints in hot and harsh environments have affected aircraft availability and operational efficiency. The company acknowledged that, as a result of these challenges, it is unable to achieve profit levels comparable to those of its main European operations.

Notably, travellers holding bookings for dates after August 31 will receive direct email communication outlining available options for refunds or alternative travel plans. Customers who made their bookings through third-party providers are asked to reach out to their respective agents. These suspensions do not impact any other flights operated by the Wizz Air group.

At the same time, the move comes despite a continued increase in passenger traffic at Abu Dhabi’s airports. In 2024, Abu Dhabi Airports, which manages the emirate’s five commercial airports, handled 29.4 million passengers across its facilities. This represents over a 28% rise compared to the previous year. Zayed International Airport played a key role in this surge, expanding its network to over 125 destinations and introducing 29 new routes throughout 2024.