Wizz Air Abu Dhabi Pauses Several Europe, Central Asia Routes

wizz air abu dhabi a321
Credit: Joe Pries Aviation

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will suspend or pause several routes in the coming weeks as part of a broader network realignment, affecting services across Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus.

The carrier, a joint venture between Hungary-based Wizz Air and Abu Dhabi investor ADQ, has halted ticket sales for flights to Varna from July 14, followed by Belgrade on July 19, Tirana on July 20, Kutaisi on July 29 and Sarajevo on Aug. 31.

The ULCC’s booking system shows that six additional routes will be temporarily suspended, including Krakow (July 29–Sept. 19), Budapest (paused until Sept. 1), Vienna (paused until Sept. 21); Katowice (paused until Oct. 26) and both Astana and Samarkand (paused until Nov. 1). Services to Sofia and Cluj have already been discontinued.

While Wizz has not directly attributed the route suspensions to any specific cause, the move comes as the airline continues to manage the operational impact of widespread Pratt & Whitney GTF engine issues that have grounded nearly 20% of its Airbus A320neo-family fleet in fiscal 2025.

In June, Wizz Air CEO József Váradi said the carrier was strategically reducing flying in “hot and harsh” environments—regions with high temperatures and poor air quality that can accelerate engine wear. He explained that capacity would be reallocated to lower-risk areas to help reduce operating costs and prolong engine life.

“Hot and harsh is a significant issue which we are going to address,” Váradi said. “That will not only lower operating costs and [extend the] engine lifetime, but it will also give more productivity on sectors.”

Wizz Air reported a net profit of €213.9 million ($244.4 million) for the fiscal year ending March 2025, a 42% drop year-on-year, with operating profit down 62%. The airline has secured €353.6 million in credits and compensation, including from Pratt & Whitney, and received 14 spare GTF engines during the year to help mitigate the disruption.

OAG Schedules Analyser data shows that Wizz Air Abu Dhabi currently operates 119 weekly departures to 23 destinations from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. According to the CAPA – Centre for Aviation Fleet Database, the airline’s fleet consists of 12 aircraft—eight A321s and four A321neos.

Wizz Air has been approached for comment regarding the changes to its Abu Dhabi network.

David Casey

David Casey is Editor in Chief of Routes, the global route development community's trusted source for news and information.