Wizz Air eyes expansion into India and Pakistan, with ambitious growth plans

There’s no stopping the Wizz Air train – or more precisely, the Wizz Air plane. After the low-cost airline’s shares rose nicely on the London Stock Exchange, the Hungarian-owned company announced plans to launch in Pakistan as well as India within the next 6 to 12 months. CEO József Váradi stated that the airline aims to break into these South Asian markets, as well as further solidify its presence in Saudi Arabia. These countries are considered popular destinations for travellers from the United Arab Emirates, where Wizz Air already operates through a joint venture. Furthermore, Wizz recently announced its first trip, on which it will use its new narrow-body, long-range Airbus aircraft. The difference compared to most traditional airlines will be that three-course meals and reclining seats will not be available on Wizz flights.

Beginning in March next year, Wizz Air will introduce Airbus’ new narrow-body, long-range aircraft on the route between London and Jeddah, which lasts close to 7 hours, as we wrote HERE. However, the airline will not offer the typical luxuries found on long-haul flights, such as reclining seats, entertainment screens, or in-flight meals. As Váradi put it, passengers flying the overnight route will need to entertain themselves, Portfolio writes. This cost-cutting approach also extends to every other service, from water to carry-on baggage, all of which will come with a fee.

Passengers on these flights will also face some challenges when it comes to facilities. Nearly 240 passengers will share just three onboard toilets, with everyone having to navigate through a single narrow aisle to reach them. Despite the relatively low price of GBP 134.99 for a one-way ticket, the aircraft’s setup on the new A321XLR will be identical to that of Wizz Air’s other short-haul planes in the A320 family.

Wizz Air “lets passengers decide what they want to pay for”

The new A321XLR aircraft, designed for longer routes, will feature the same basic cabin setup as Wizz Air’s short-haul planes. Passengers will be able to bring their own amenities, such as blankets, and purchase additional space, food, and beverages, but at a price. Váradi defended this model by emphasising that Wizz Air’s low-cost flights democratise air travel by letting passengers decide which services they want to pay for, contrasting this with traditional airlines that bundle services into higher ticket prices.