Wizz Air Announced As Official Carrier For Routes Europe 2026

Wizz Air, the market leader in Central and Eastern Europe and Italy’s second largest airline, has been named the Official Carrier for Routes Europe, the leading route development event for the region.

Routes Europe unites airlines, airports and the destinations they serve to define future air connectivity across the continent and beyond. The 2026 edition of the event will take place in Rimini, Italy, on 18-20 May.

Wizz Air has grown into one of the world’s fastest-expanding airlines, connecting people, cities and economies across an extensive network spanning Europe and beyond. Built on an ultra-low-cost model and a strong focus on operational efficiency and digital innovation, the airline continues to make air travel more accessible for hundreds of millions of passengers.

Wizz Air has reaffirmed its commitment to expansion across the region, reporting a substantial 9.4% increase in passenger numbers in 2025 and unveiling a series of new routes to further strengthen its network. Italy continues to be a cornerstone of the airline’s growth strategy, with 19 million passengers choosing Wizz Air in the country last year.

Today, Wizz Air operates more than 280 routes connecting travellers from Italy to over 90 destinations across Europe and beyond. This sustained investment has secured Wizz Air’s position as the second‑largest airline in the Italian market.

Through its extensive network, Wizz Air strengthens connectivity between Italian regions and key European and international markets, supporting tourism flows, regional mobility and economic development. Building on its strategic expansion, the airline — which commenced operations from Rimini in 2022 — has now announced new services to Katowice, Sofia, Warsaw, Chisinau, Budapest, and Tirana, further widening direct travel options for passengers across the region and is deploying its largest ever Italian schedule in 2026.

Wizz Air operates a young fleet composed mainly of Airbus A321neo aircraft. These aircraft are more fuel-efficient than older models, which can reduce fuel burn and emissions per passenger kilometre. As a result, the airline reports among the lowest CO₂ emissions per passenger kilometre in European aviation*. Alongside investment in technology and customer experience, this supports Wizz Air’s aim of maintaining reliable operations and low fares.

*Based on publicly available emissions-intensity data for the financial year 2025 and industry recognition. Wizz Air was named the world’s most emissions-efficient airline by Cirium and received the Sustainable Airline of the Year 2025 award from Airline Economics.

Wizz Air executives will take part in several conference programme slots at Routes Europe, discussing the airline’s growth strategy and its outlook for European aviation. They will address such topics as demand trends, market saturation, sustainable growth, network expansion and the airline’s collaborations with airports and other key industry stakeholders. The conference programme will also feature senior airline executives and industry leaders, including ACI Europe’s Director General, Olivier Jankovec, Flyvbird CEO, Tomislav Lang, and IATA’s Regional Vice President, Rafael Schvartzman.

According to a study conducted by the World Travel and Tourism Council, Travel & Tourism in Italy recorded a record-breaking year in 2025. International visitor spend in Italy is expected to exceed €78 billion by 2035 with tourism contributing €282.6 billion to the economy.

Located within the Emilia-Romagna region, Rimini is an Italian municipality of 150,000 inhabitants. The region welcomes approximately 14.5 million visitors annually and is a leading tourist destination in Europe for both leisure and business travel.

Steven Small, VP of Air Transport Events at Informa, said: “As a long-standing supporter of Routes events, we are delighted that Wizz Air will be the Official Carrier for the upcoming Routes Europe. Wizz Air’s extensive network and their commitment to making air travel more accessible aligns with the events mission to shape the region’s future air route networks.”

“We’re thrilled to be the Official Carrier for Routes Europe 2026 as we deploy our largest-ever Italian schedule; a fantastic opportunity to deepen our commitment to Italy and the wider region. With strong growth across the country and expanding operations in Rimini, Wizz Air, Europe’s reliable airline is reshaping what travellers can expect from low‑cost aviation — more destinations, greater efficiency, and consistently low fares. Routes Europe brings together partners who share our ambition to strengthen connectivity and unlock new opportunities for tourism and economic development in Italy, Europe and beyond, and we look forward to contributing to this important conversation. Let’s WIZZ!” said Ian Malin, Chief Commercial Officer of Wizz Air.

"Having Wizz Air as the official carrier for Routes Europe 2026 marks a significant milestone for Rimini and Emilia-Romagna Region. Its involvement enhances the event’s international profile and confirms the growing strategic role of our airport within the European aviation landscape. We are confident that, thanks to Wizz Air’s contribution, Routes Europe 2026 will be a great success. This partnership is an important step on a shared path to growth. Our aim is to further strengthen international connectivity, develop new traffic opportunities and achieve the ambitious development goals of both the airport and  the  Emilia-Romagna Region"  -Leonardo Corbucci, CEO AIRiminum - Rimini Airport

Routes Europe 2026 will take place on 18-20 May in the Palacongressi Rimini.