Wizz Air will launch 143 additional routes this summer, resulting from numerous new bases and airports added to its route map. The carrier is determined to emerge from the crisis as a much more formidable competing force.

Wizz Air has taken a very different approach during coronavirus than many airlines in Europe. It has expanded rapidly, showing real optimism, with large numbers of new routes added due to multiple new bases joining its network. Since the pandemic struck, new bases include the following, with some starting this summer:

  1. Abu Dhabi
  2. Bacau
  3. Bari
  4. Burgas
  5. Cardiff
  6. Catania
  7. Doncaster
  8. Dortmund
  9. Larnaca
  10. Lviv
  11. London Gatwick
  12. Milan Malpensa
  13. Oslo Gardermoen
  14. Palermo
  15. Sarajevo
  16. St Petersburg
  17. Tirana

Additionally, large numbers of new airports have been added, with Wizz Air's network rising from 146 airports in summer 2019 to 180 in summer 2021. Some are new bases, mentioned above, along with the likes of Alexandria, Almaty, Ancona, Brindisi, Cagliari, Chania, Dalaman, Genoa, Lanzarote, Luxor, Olbia, Mykonos, Pescara, Preveza, Sohag, Sharm El Sheikh, and Skellefteå. Two of these, Luxor and Sohag, have today (April 12th) been announced from Abu Dhabi.

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143 routes added

Wizz Air will launch some 143 routes this summer, as shown in the table below, based on analyzing OAG data and the ultra-low-cost carrier's (ULCC) website. This doesn't include routes operated in summer 2020 (S20) or winter 2020 (W20). Wizz Air UK is due to begin 20 routes, with this unit recently receiving its first A321neo.

Start date

From

To

Weekly departures (in first week)

Operator

Italy and Greece see most added

Italy and Greece have seen 40 and 33 routes added respectively. Because of this and routes added in S20/W20, Wizz Air will have a total of 207 routes to, from, and within Italy in S21, up from just 88 in S19. For Greece, it is 83, up from just 21.

Wizz Air's average weekly frequency on these 143 routes is two based on the first week each begins. However, a good number later increase, especially Bologna to Olbia and Rome Ciampino to Tirana. Moreover, some four routes – each within Italy – start with a seven-weekly offering, demonstrating how Wizz Air is taking the fight to the country. In S21, LCCs have nearly six in ten Italy seats (57%), OAG data reveals, with Wizz Air closing in on easyJet.

Wizz Air aircraft
Palermo has seen the most seats added from additional routes, partly from higher-frequency domestic services. Photo: Getty Images.

Why this growth?

You'd be forgiven for thinking that this fast growth is just from Wizz Air cutting aircraft from existing bases and redistributing them. But it's not. Since the pandemic struck, Wizz Air has added over 30 new aircraft, paving the way for the ULCC's changes. Speaking at Routes Reconnected last year, József Váradi, Wizz Air’s CEO, said that:

"From a business standpoint, coronavirus is an opportunity to position Wizz Air versus the industry to come out as a much stronger player, a much more formidable competing force."

This is illustrated in Wizz Air's much bigger focus recently on flights within Western Europe, which will be key to future growth and size.

Do you think Wizz Air is taking the right approach? Comment below!