Wizz Air Abu Dhabi

Wizz Air is eyeing a stronger presence in Israel as well as Central and Eastern Europe and seeks to learn lessons from its failed Abu Dhabi experiment.

Wizz Air has confirmed it will substantially scale back its Airbus A321XLR order as it pivots away from “hot and harsh” environments.

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi plans to boost its operational capacity by 40% in 2025, capitalizing on the gap left by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s decision to cease operations.

Etihad Airways is capitalizing on the opportunity created by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s upcoming shutdown, unveiling seven new routes from the UAE capital.

Wizz Air will soon close its Abu Dhabi-based JV, ending an effort to establish a foothold in the Gulf that was hampered by operational constraints, regional instability and restricted market access.

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will suspend or pause several routes, affecting services across Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Wizz Air is considering expanding its presence in Uzbekistan with new routes and the potential creation of a joint airline in the country.

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will not launch Airbus A321XLR operations until 2026, when crucial upgrades should have been made to the aircraft's Pratt & Whitney GTF engine.

The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.

The carrier has also begun to exchange several A321neos from its UAE joint venture Wizz Air Abu Dhabi with A321ceos.

Gulf-area majors and LCCs are expanding their CIS networks.

New routes are being launched from Hungary, Romania, the United Arab Emirates and the UK, including the airline’s first flights to Istanbul Airport.

The ULCC launched flights from Europe to the Saudi airport in September.

When it enters service, the A321XLR will be the longest-range single-aisle aircraft ever produced, with a range of 4,700 nm.

Armenian startup Fly Arna is launching a new route to Moscow, but Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will not return to the Russian capital as previously planned.

Flights to Moscow will resume in October, making the airline the fifth to offer flights between the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

Wizz Air’s Abu Dhabi-based carrier is adding two more destinations to its network, while the Hungarian group’s application for US approval for transatlantic cargo operations has been rejected.

The LCC will open service to Dammam during the northern hemisphere autumn.

The airline said strong economic ties between the UAE and Israel will drive demand.

The agreement forms part of Saudi Arabia’s vision to grow its aviation industry to more than 330 million passengers by 2030.

Mattala will become the ULCC’s first destination in South Asia.

Routes details the latest new route announcements, as well as the services returning to carriers’ networks.

Krasnodar will become the second Russian destination in the ULCC’s expanding network.

Flights between Abu Dhabi and Moscow Vnukovo will start in December.

József Váradi wants to grow the ULCC fourfold over the next decade.