Wizz Air exit from Abu Dhabi leaves hundreds of staff in limbo

Wizz Air Holdings Plc’s decision to suspend its Abu Dhabi operation has put up to 450 jobs in limbo, as some employees will find it impossible to relocate to Europe.  

Every employee in Abu Dhabi will have the opportunity to take another job across the budget carrier’s European network, Chief Executive Officer Jozsef Varadi said on a video call with staff seen by Bloomberg News. Affected employees also are due a bonus payment in September, he said at the Monday meeting after announcing the shutdown.

“The company has the full intention to try to retain as many people as possible of the 450 affected,” Varadi said, accompanied by Wizz Air UK Managing Director Yvonne Moynihan. “We want to be supportive, we want to be helpful.”

Wizz said on Monday that six years after launching the Abu Dhabi base, it plans to shut it down and stop local flights. The move is aimed at saving money after ongoing engine issues grounded jets, and geopolitical challenges along with regulatory barriers upended expansion plans.  

Varadi said in a separate interview on Monday that it’s unlikely that everyone who’s displaced in Abu Dhabi will be able to secure another role in Europe. 

The comments to employees highlight concerns of staff who don’t have European passports or visas, and would struggle to transfer to Wizz’s European offices. Varadi said there could be “impossible cases” but the airline would look at everyone’s circumstance and rally its human resources staff to help. 

The Abu Dhabi exit comes at a time when Wizz is struggling to rein in costs as the company grapples with maintenance issues on Pratt & Whitney engines that have grounded dozens of planes in its Airbus SE fleet. Last month, Wizz said the groundings, retirement of older jets and lag time in airport cost improvement will drive higher costs in fiscal 2026.

The hot and harsh environment in Abu Dhabi can wear down the jet engines more easily, and Varadi told staff that operating in these conditions was “suicidal” to Wizz. Additionally, the Abu Dhabi hub prioritizes Etihad Airways, its flagship carrier, over other airlines and Wizz wasn’t permitted to access India and Pakistan markets, he said.

“It is painful but it is the right decision,” Varadi said.