Summary

  • Wizz Air faces challenges as Debrecen International Airport closes due to runway defect caused by heat, impacting summer travel plans.
  • Budapest Airport steps up to assist stranded passengers with free water, designated waiting areas, and additional flights during closure period.
  • With flights being diverted and cancellations expected, Budapest Airport and partner airlines are working hard to ensure smooth operations.

With the peak summer season in full swing, Wizz Air will have a tough week as it copes with the closure of Hungary’s Debrecen International Airport. The low-cost carrier had already announced it was closing its base at Debrecen International in October this year, but damage to the single runway has put the airport out of action for at least a week.

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Is this a meltdown?

On July 11, 2024, Debrecen International Airport (DEB) announced that during a runway inspection the previous day, it had detected a defect on the runway. The airport said the defect was caused by the persistent high temperature, which, in compliance with the highest aviation safety standards, resulted in the temporary closure of the airport until the defect was corrected. The airport statement added:

“Depending on weather conditions, it will take at least one week to correct the fault. All partner airlines operating scheduled and charter flights have been informed of the temporary closure in order to allow them to make their decisions on rescheduling flights as soon as possible and to inform the travelling public.”

The statement informed passengers departing or arriving at DEB, a base for Wizz Air, to contact the airlines or travel agents for information on their flights. It also said it had immediately started rectifying the [unidentified] problem and would do its utmost to correct it as soon as possible “so that we can welcome our passengers again.”

Wizz Air Airbus A321neo Landing In Prague

Photo: kamilpetran | Shutterstock

On Sunday, July 14, Hungary’s Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD), the main airport of the nation’s capital, released a statement about the closure of DEB. The airport said that while DEB is closed, it will take over the handling of some of the flights scheduled there, but said passengers need to contact their airline for advice.

Smartwings Boeing 737 MAX 8 Landing In Malta

Photo: InsectWorld | Shutterstock

BUD expects to handle 3-4 extra flights daily, meaning that the total number of passengers using the airport could exceed 55,000 per day. The airport is concerned about the high temperatures and crowding, which have been exacerbated by air traffic control delays leading to flight cancellations and disruptions across Europe.

BUD is stepping up to help passengers

Due to the heat alert, the airport is providing free bottled water, and 13 drinking fountains are available to refill these bottles or flasks brought by passengers. It has set up designated waiting areas in Terminals 2A and 2B, where eligible passengers can wait and rest comfortably and be provided with food and drinks, as well as baby food, diapers and wipes for travelers with young children.

The Skycourt at Budapest Airport.

Photo: BUD

Budapest Airport CEO Francois Berisot said the extreme heat is taking its toll on everybody, so it is particularly important to operate the airport with even greater care. In addition to looking after passengers, the airport provides protective drinks and air-conditioned resting rooms for employees, adding that anyone who feels unwell should not hesitate to ask staff for help.

“Taking over the traffic of Debrecen Airport is another challenge for Budapest airport, as we need to ensure adequate capacity for the aircraft and passengers diverted from there, both in the terminals and on the aprons. Our colleagues have spent the night and this morning preparing for the extra flights and passengers, and we will ensure smooth passenger processes at the airport.”

a220_bulgariaair

Photo: Airbus

A look at the Debrecen International website this morning showed that it was scheduled to depart 35 flights today, with 22 operated by Wizz Air, five by Lufthansa, five by Smartwings, two by BulgariaAir and one by Freebird. The first six flights of the day are listed as diverted, but strangely, all the other flights are still listed as expected.

It will be a difficult week for Budapest Airport and Wizz Air as they struggle to keep unhappy passengers satisfied and cooperative. As the situation unfolds today, there will no doubt be more news emerging, but the only official statement currently on the DEB website is the short one discussed above.

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