Summary
- Wizz Air started as a low-cost carrier in Central Europe and has grown to serve 200+ destinations.
- The airline plans to expand its fleet to 500 aircraft by 2030, with a focus on the efficient Airbus A321.
- Wizz Air’s success and growth over 20 years has led to increased global connectivity and accessibility.
The European low-cost carrier Wizz Air is celebrating its 20th anniversary of operations, serving more than 400 million passengers over the past two decades.
From first flight to low-cost giant
May 19, 2004, marks an important day for Wizz Air as the budget airline took off for its inaugural flight from Katowice Airport (KTW) in Poland to London Luton Airport (LTN). Since the inaugural flight, the airline has expanded its reach from a single Airbus A320 aircraft to a fleet of 211 aircraft, serving 200 destinations across 53 countries.
Founded by József Váradi and six other businesspeople, Wizz Air aimed to adopt the low-cost model from the start. The airline initially focused on the emerging low-cost carrier market in Central and Eastern Europe. With its headquarters in Budapest, Wizz Air quickly established itself as a leading provider of connectivity and accessibility across the region.
Photo: Chainkrub_TH | Shutterstock
After just four years of operation, Wizz Air flew over 10 million passengers. In 2015, the airline went public on the London Stock Exchange. By 2017, the airline had opened a new low-cost arm in the UK, Wizz Air UK, with its office at London Luton Airport (LTN).
Now, the airline has expanded its presence beyond Europe, serving destinations across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific countries and regions such as the Maldives, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. Reflecting on the airline’s growth, Wizz Air CEO József Váradi said:
“I extend my greatest gratitude to every one of you for your continued support and relentless commitment over the past two decades. Together, we have changed the world and achieved a remarkable success. Thank you! Our eyes are on the next 20 years now.”
500 aircraft by 2030
With its eyes on the next 20 years, Wizz Air has ambitious plans to expand its aircraft fleet to 500 by 2030. Currently, the budget airline has 211 aircraft, with an average age of 4.4 years, according to Planespotters.net. The fleet comprises 165 Airbus A321s, 45 Airbus A320s, and a single Airbus A330 widebody aircraft.
Photo: Ceri Breeze | Shutterstock
The Airbus A321 aircraft has become a staple aircraft in the airline’s fleet, representing more than 50% of its fleet. In late 2023, Simple Flying caught up with Wizz Air’s management about its plans. The airline reiterated that the Airbus A321 aircraft will continue to be the key part of Wizz Air’s strategy.
Yvonne Moynihan, Chief Corporate and ESG Officer at Wizz Air, said:
“During COVID, we invested in the A321neo, which is the most efficient in its range and abilities compared to other aircraft. The A321neo now represents over 50% of our fleet, bringing lower fuel consumption, lower noise, and better efficiency performance. That has been key to our strategy.”
Related
Why The Airbus A321neo Is At The Core Of Wizz Air’s Fleet Strategy
Simple Flying caught up with Wizz Air’s management about its plans.
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