Wizz Air has laid the foundations for huge growth out of Vienna this year with the allocation of extra aircraft. The airline expects 2020 to bring it a 70% year on year growth out of the Austrian capital. This development in Vienna goes alongside Wizz Air's previous expansion announcement between Albania and Italy.

Wizz Air, A321
Wizz Air will now operate an additional aircraft from its Vienna base. Photo: tjdarmstadt via Wikimedia Commons

New flights from Vienna

Yesterday (17th January 2020), low-cost carrier Wizz Air announced that it would be placing another aircraft in its Vienna base. This aircraft will be the ninth to reside in Vienna and comes from Wizz Air's respectable Airbus A321 fleet. The A321 will join the fleet in Vienna on 1st July 2020 providing a significant boost to Wizz Air's network.

In fact, the delivery of this aircraft is particularly poignant for Wizz Air's development since it will allow the airline to open up new routes. Wizz Air will now boost its network offering to 49 cities with five additional routes offered in summer 2020.

Vienna route map, five new cities
Wizz Air will expand in five new cities as of summer 2020. Photo: Great Circle Mapper

A route between the Sardinian port town of Alghero will be offered three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. A service to Corfu will operate from 3rd June 2020 with two weekly services. Wizz Air will also offer two weekly services to Podgorica in Montenegro, Suceava in Romania, and Faro in Portugal.

More aircraft means more flights

In addition, Wizz Air will be able to extend existing routes to four cities.

The airline will extend two of its services to Italy. Passengers will now be able to travel between Vienna and Milan 14 times per week, a 100% increase on the current offering. There will also be two more services per week offered to Rome-Fiumicino bringing the route to 12 weekly operations.

The Málaga, Spain to Vienna route will also profit from two more services per week and flights to Porto, Portugal will be offered three times a week. Currently, they are only offered twice weekly.

Why the expansion?

The move is demonstrative of Wizz Air's commitment to meeting customer demand and maintaining a positive customer experience. The decision to use new A321 at the Vienna base is strategic. It shows that Wizz Air wants to invest in Vienna.

A321, Wizz Air
With the delivery of new aircraft, Wizz is showing its commitment to Vienna. Photo: tjdarmstadt via Wikimedia Commons

But, more than that, by placing additional aircraft in Vienna, Wizz Air is heightening tourism in the area. It will now be much easier for travelers to experience Vienna and use it as a hub to visit other areas in Austria.

However, if that wasn't enough, the expansion will also profit the local economy in terms of Austrian employment. With so much opportunity from one small change, excitement about the future is certainly palpable.

“Today is a great news for Austrian travellers and those who wish to visit the country," said CEO of Wizz Air Holding, József Váradi. In a press release, Mr Váradi continued:

"We are announcing more Vienna based brand new aircraft, more low fare routes and frequencies as well as more jobs and tourism revenues for Austria. Wizz Air is the structural winner of the fast changing Vienna airline market given its highly efficient operation and superior fleet performance.”

Already Wizz Air seems to be starting the year on a high!

What do you think of Wizz Air's expansion? Let us know in the comments below!