Wizz Air closes one base, opens another: Where is the Hungarian airline heading?
Summer is the golden season of air travel, and this year’s peak months were stronger than ever for Wizz Air. The Hungary-based airline not only set new passenger records but also announced major strategic changes: it is moving from Vienna to Bratislava, launching new routes, and further expanding its fleet.
Record passenger numbers and improved punctuality
Between May and August, Wizz Air carried 24.5 million passengers, a 10% increase compared with the previous year, Olívia Harangozó, the company’s communications manager, said at a season-ending press conference. During the summer peak, the airline operated more than 120,000 flights, with daily departures reaching 1,000 worldwide from July. In Hungary alone, 2.6 million passengers travelled with Wizz Air, a 13% rise. By the end of the year, the total could reach 8 million.
Punctuality also improved significantly: the proportion of departures within 15 minutes increased by 63%, while flights delayed by more than three hours accounted for just 0.5% of all operations. Only six flights had to be cancelled in Hungary, mainly due to external factors such as protests in France.
Award-winning sustainability and a modern fleet
The airline’s fleet currently consists of 243 Airbus aircraft, with an average age of 4.5 years. Aircraft numbered 244 to 250 are expected soon, further strengthening Wizz Air’s young, fuel-efficient fleet.
Thanks to these efforts, the airline received the “Sustainable Airline of the Year 2025” award, recognising its significant CO₂ reductions, its Net Zero roadmap, and the transparency of its sustainability reporting. Artificial intelligence also plays a role: pilots can use AI-based decision support to optimise fuel consumption during flights.
From Vienna to Bratislava: Driven by economic factors
One of Wizz Air’s biggest decisions this year is the closure of its Vienna base in November and the relocation of operations to Bratislava. The airline cited rising Austrian airport charges and taxes, which would have increased ticket prices, as the main reason.
The Slovak capital, however, offered more favourable conditions and remains easily accessible for passengers from western Hungary. The move will not affect Budapest operations but will instead complement the Hungarian market.
New routes and state-supported connections
The airline won a public tender to operate the domestic domestic Bratislava–Košice route, supported by the Slovak government. Wizz Air has already launched similar state-funded routes in Italy, Spain, and North Macedonia.
These new routes also bring economic benefits: according to estimates, every one million passengers generates around 750 new jobs in related sectors such as tourism and services.
What about Ukraine?
Wizz Air continues to monitor the situation in Ukraine. Although three of its aircraft remain stranded in the country, the airline hopes to restart flights to Kyiv and Lviv once the war situation stabilises.
Wizz Air has therefore concluded a record-breaking summer while also beginning a new chapter. The move to Bratislava, the launch of new routes, and its sustainability achievements all signal that the airline is planning for the long term – and intends to remain a key player in the Central European market.