Wizz Air doubles down on UK-Europe route expansion days after Abu Dhabi exit

Dubai: Wizz Air is pushing ahead with plans to expand its core European markets, announcing five new UK routes across Spain, Italy, and Austria, just days after confirming its exit from Abu Dhabi.

Starting this winter, the Hungary-based budget airline will connect the UK to Spanish cities including Bilbao, Madrid, Seville, Barcelona, and Valencia. It’s also adding flights to Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino in Italy, along with Vienna in Austria.

This expansion comes as Wizz Air winds down its Abu Dhabi operations, effective September 1, 2025. The airline cited a mix of challenges—ongoing engine performance issues in hot climates, repeated airspace closures due to geopolitical tensions, and regulatory hurdles limiting growth in the region.

“These factors have made it increasingly difficult to sustain our low-cost model profitably in the Middle East,” the airline said in a statement. “This was a difficult decision, but the right one given the circumstances.”

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, a joint venture with Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, launched in 2020 with big ambitions—aiming for 100 aircraft within 15 years. But recent disruptions, including engine issues tied to its Airbus A321neo fleet and closures of Gulf airspace following regional unrest, forced repeated suspensions in 2023 and 2024.

The exit impacts around 450 employees in Abu Dhabi, including cabin crew and pilots, Bloomberg recently reported. While some staff will be offered roles in Wizz Air’s European operations, others may not be able to relocate. The airline said affected employees will receive a bonus payout in September.

The move signals a broader recalibration of Wizz Air’s strategy—doubling down on scalable, profitable European routes rather than navigating the operational risks of Middle Eastern markets.

CEO József Váradi said the airline remains committed to delivering affordable travel but will now focus on geographies where “long-term growth and cost control” are achievable. That includes bolstering its presence in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as select Western European markets like the UK, Austria, and Italy.

With demand for low-cost flights continuing to rise in Europe, Wizz Air’s reallocation of aircraft and crew is likely to fuel its post-pandemic recovery—at the expense of earlier expansion goals in the Gulf.