New destination: Wizz Air goes to the world’s 8th most populous South Asian country

The Hungarian low-cost airline, Wizz Air, has become the fifth-largest European airline. Its CEO, József Váradi, mentioned in an interview with CNN’s Richard Quest that it would expand its fleet. In 2024, it will be able to operate 8-hour-long flights. A Bangladesh newspaper revealed which South Asian country Wizz Air might conquer next.

We wrote before that Hungary’s low-cost carrier, Wizz Air, performs better in the East than in the West. Recently, we have heard about new flights mostly to Eastern destinations, and the airline created its third biggest base in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Gossip has it that they would like to expand towards the East to even Uzbekistan and India. Now, a Bangladesh newspaper revealed the next South Asian country Wizz Air would like to conquer: Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is the world’s eighth most populous country, located “between the two arms” of India. Dhaka Tribune, a local newspaper printed in the capital, said Wizz Air might receive all permissions to operate flights to Dhaka in two weeks. G7.hu wrote that the Hungarian low-cost airline, expands swiftly in the Middle East. It operates flights from Budapest to Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, from their centre in Abu Dhabi, they do so to the Maldives, Oman or Uzbekistan.

Wizz Air CEO told CNN’s Richard Quest last week that their new planes will begin arriving in 2024. As a result, they will be able to operate 8-hour-long flights instead of the current maximum 6-hour-longs. If that happens, they would enter the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi markets. Interestingly, 2 billion people live in the South Asian region, but the passenger traffic between India and Europe is only 2.3 million every year. That number is 1/5th of the overall traffic of Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport. And Budapest is not one of the largest European airports.

Mr Váradi said in the interview that they would not like to expand towards the Transatlantic region. G7.hu wrote that Wizz’s competitors do so, but the Hungarian airline would go to the Middle East and Central and South Asia instead. And there is potential in such flights because of the large number of guest workers.

Wizz Air’s Abu Dhabi base has become crucial in that regard, since many South Asians work in the Middle East. Therefore, they would like to increase the base’s crew twofold by 2024. Meanwhile, direct flights between Europe and South Asia could help guest workers aiming for Europe and the broadening of the region’s middle-class seeking travel experience.

Considering capacity, Wizz Air is Europe’s fifth largest airline, even preceding British Airways and Air France. And it is expanding the quickest among its competitors in the European top 10.

However, Wizz Air still struggles with delays. In the United Kingdom, Wizz was the worst airline, considering delays at UK airports. However, Mr Váradi said they learned from their mistakes.