Wizz Air Targets 20% Growth with Route Shift and Fleet Boost

Wizz Air is aiming for 20% year-on-year capacity growth through March 2026, driven by a strategic shift toward more profitable routes, greater use of secondary airports, and fleet expansion. The ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) plans to grow at a low to mid-teens rate in the first half of the year, supported by strong summer demand, improved load factors, and robust forward bookings.

CEO József Váradi emphasized a move away from less profitable, experimental routes, noting that capacity on routes under three years old fell by 14 percentage points in the 2024–25 financial year. “People continue to want to fly, and they continue to book tickets,” Váradi told investors. The network densification strategy focuses on established markets like Poland, Italy, and Hungary, identified as the most resilient and growth-ready.

A key element of the plan is shifting operations to lower-cost, secondary airports, a move Váradi says will reduce unit costs over the next three years. As part of this strategy, Wizz is retiring 18 older A320ceo aircraft while adding 42 A321neos and 8 long-range A321XLRs in 2025–26, enabling longer-haul expansion from Central and Eastern Europe.

With fewer disruptions expected from the Pratt & Whitney engine issues that previously limited capacity growth, the airline is now positioned to scale quickly as grounded aircraft return to service.

Wizz Air also has long-term plans to reenter Ukraine, presenting a proposal that would start with 30 routes and scale to 150 routes and 15 million seats within three years. In addition, the carrier is maintaining operational flexibility in Israel, adjusting service based on the ongoing security situation.

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