Wizz Air

Fancy a Greek holiday? Book now! – Flights got significantly cheaper from Budapest

If you are looking for a cheap holiday in Greece, now is your time. Plane tickets are pretty favourable at the moment to Greek islands as well as Spanish and Turkish destinations.

Travellers rejoice!

According to Okosutas, plane ticket prices are back to normal, therefore you should book your ticket now if your desired destination is Greece, Spain or Turkey.

Travellers had to face high prices until the end of May before the long-awaited price fall. Even the budget airlines, Wizz Air and Ryanair offered unbelievably expensive tickets. It is rather unfortunate for those who like to book their accommodations and plan their holidays months ahead.

A one-way flight from Hungary to the Greek islands was about HUF 40-80 thousand (EUR 110-220) earlier this year, while now, you can get your hands on tickets as cheap as HUF 20 thousand (EUR 55) to almost any of the most popular Greek islands. This used to be the average price before the Covid pandemic. If you are very lucky, you might catch an amazing deal for HUF 15 thousand (EUR 40).

Falling ticket prices

Just to demonstrate the price fall, a ticket to Rhodes was around HUF 85 thousand (EUR 230) in April. The price got a little more favourable in May, HUF 45 thousand (EUR 120). Now it is approximately HUF 40 thousand (EUR 110). As you can see, the prices show a continuous downward trend.

The price of the ticket also depends on how popular your destination is. For example, the most popular Greek islands are Crete and Rhodes, in Spain, Malaga and Mallorca are the most sought-after destinations. If you can find a ticket for HUF 20 thousand (EUR 55) do not hesitate, as it is a great price. When it comes to less popular destinations, for example, Burgas or Santorini, the price of a ticket can be as low as HUF 15 thousand (EUR 40). At the moment, the slashed-price tickets are mainly available for June and July. Even so, you might find some great deals in August as well.

Dreaming about a Greek holiday this summer?

It is important to note that some ticket prices show a slower falling tendency than others. A ticket to Malaga was HUF 97 thousand (EUR 260) in April. At the beginning of May, it was around HUF 68 thousand (EUR 184). Ticket prices to Malaga are still relatively high. Even though prices are unlikely to get as low as HUF 20 thousand (EUR 55), they will still be around HUF 30 thousand (EUR 81), on average. Thus, it is best to wait a wee longer.

TIP: Book a ticket at least 3-4 weeks prior to your departure. Tickets tend to be less pricey at that time.

Both Wizz Air and Ryanair offer a great selection of beach breaks to Greek destinations. Wizz Air operates frequent flights to Athens, Chania, Corfu, Heraklion, Rhodes, Santorini, Thessaloniki and Zakynthos. However, you should be aware of this important piece of information the CEO of Wizz Air shared the other day regarding their summer and long-term plans before booking your ticket.

Ryan Air also flies on a regular basis to Athens, Chania, Corfu, Mykonos, Preveza – Aktion, Rhodes, Thessaloniki and Zakynthos. To find the best deal, it is advised to compare the prices of the two airlines. Seize the opportunity to explore the diverse culture, ancient sites, astonishing beaches, amazing museums and gorgeous scenery these stunning Mediterranean countries have to offer!

June 6, 2023

Wizz Air CEO shares crucial information about summer and long-term plans

In an exclusive interview, Wizz Air CEO József Váradi spoke about summer trends, potential challenges, ticket prices and the vociferous criticism of rival Ryanair. Read on to find answers to all your puzzling questions, like whether Wizz Air will offer Wi-Fi onboard in the future? And why is checked baggage more expensive in Budapest?

2023 summer trends

In 2022, a number of disruptions indicated that the large influx in traffic following the coronavirus epidemic caused difficulties for the airport industry. According to József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air, these issues still persist. For instance, there are imposed restrictions on airspace and ground handling due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Moreover, labour shortages remain a problem, but airlines are better prepared than last year, according to Váradi. The Wizz Air CEO revealed in the exclusive interview with index.hu that the Hungarian airline expects higher profits this year, as the company has increased capacity by 60 percent in four years, making it the fastest growing airline on the continent. Last year it had 52 million passengers, while this year it expects 65 million.

How about the extra profit tax?

“This is the government’s decision, not ours. The extra profit tax has changed a lot, it has become more of an environmental tax, so it favours those air transport implementations that are more environmentally friendly. Wizz Air is leading the way in this regard, we fly the most efficient fleet not only economically but also environmentally,” Váradi said.

Rival Ryanair is a vocal critic of the Hungarian government’s extra profit tax. “We, on the other hand, represent a more intellectually consolidated platform. And we intend to keep it that way, supporting a meaningful dialogue with decision-makers. We see ourselves as the airline of Hungarians in Hungary,” Váradi said.

Airline trends, complaint handling

Among Hungarian passengers, of course, coastal destinations are the most sought-after, but wallet-friendly countries are also becoming increasingly popular. Wizz Air has more than 1,000 routes in 60 countries.

On average, a Wizz Air ticket costs EUR 70-80. Despite high demand, Wizz Air cannot be flexible enough in the short term due to finite capacity and cumbersome processes. Váradi admitted that last year there were difficulties in handling complaints, but that a lot has been done to address this in 2023. Amongst other things, they have automated the chargeback process and provide non-stop online support for customers.

More expensive Budapest baggage, free Wi-Fi?

Checked baggage from Budapest is often more expensive than from, say, Vienna or Prague. This is due to dynamic pricing, according to the CEO.

Váradi also touched on the possibility of offering Wi-Fi onboard, which has been an unresolved issue on Wizz Air flights for 10-15 years. The problem is that it requires extra technology, which would lead to more fuel consumption, more pollution and more expensive tickets, which is in nobody’s interest. Váradi said they were waiting for more efficient technology in this regard.

June 6, 2023

Batumi, the four-season Georgian tourist destination, presented in Budapest

Georgia is focusing on Batumi’s attractions to draw more tourists to the coast of the Black Sea. In Budapest, the aim was also to increase the knowledge of Hungarian tour operators and media representatives about this unique tourist destination. Spago Budapest was the prestigious venue for Wednesday’s event familiarising Hungarians with Batumi.

The host of the event was HE Ambassador Tamara Liluashvili. As she underlined in her opening speech, she wants Georgia to become a place that Hungarians know and want to visit.

All the conditions are in place for this, as the coastal Batumi and mountainous Adjara region could become one of Europe’s most attractive emerging tourist and business destinations.

In her speech, Princess Kristine de Bagration-Mukhrani, the Deputy Head of Adjara Tourism Agency, underlined that the region is not only a summer destination but can also be a four-season tourist destination for those who love culture, gastronomy and nature.

batumi presentation in Budapest — Photo: Daily News Hungary

The main attraction of Batumi, on the Black Sea coast, remains the beach, with its warm and less salty waters. However, the resort also offers a wide range of leisure activities. Culture and architecture lovers can enjoy the Gonio Fortress, Petra Fortress, Batumi Dolphinarium, or the gigantic sculpture of Ali and Nino. Almost all the international hotel chains can be found in the city.

Georgia has won numerous tourism awards in recent years, including being named one of the safest countries in 2020. Batumi will also be the venue for this year’s World Travel Awards, which is a mark of honour in the world of tourism.

An increasing number of business and professional meetings, events, conferences and exhibitions are being organised in Batumi, so those thinking of MICE tourism can find the perfect venue in the city.

The mountainous area of the Adjara region attracts many tourists, where the combination of ancient sights and modern lifestyle is in perfect harmony. Nature lovers can explore this unique and unknown landscape on foot or by bike, or even hop on a cable car and enjoy the panoramic view. The region is home to one of the world’s most famous bird migrations: from late August to mid-September, you can see many species of birds.

Gastronomy and wine lovers will not be disappointed either, with the world-famous Georgian cuisine sure to enchant.

Speaking at the press event, Wizz Air Airport Development Manager Ákos Palencsár said that there is currently a direct flight between Budapest and Kutaisi. This means that Georgia can be reached with a few hour-long flight and at reasonable prices. In addition, there are flights to almost all European countries, soon to be 33. Wizz Air chose Kutaisi because it is a similar distance from the capital and the coast, just an hour and a half’s drive away, Palencsár said.

Batumi and Adjara welcome people of all ages and interests who are open to Georgia’s rich culture and tourist attractions. So, Visit Batumi!

Also, we have a great interview with Tamara Liluashvili, Georgia’s Ambassador in Budapest, on diplomacy, tourism and more. Read here.

June 4, 2023

Strike: Wizz Air warns of serious disruptions this weekend

A nationwide strike by air traffic controllers and ground handlers in Italy has been announced for Sunday 4 June. The strike is expected to cause serious disruption, affecting travel to airports, check-in procedures and security screening, the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air said in a statement sent to MTI on Friday.

Wizz Air advises its passengers to plan accordingly and allow sufficient time to approach airports in Italy and complete the necessary procedures at the check-in counter, security and boarding gate.

It is also recommended that passengers check the status of their flight on the Wizz Air website or mobile app before leaving for the airport. Those who have purchased their flight through a travel agent or third-party intermediary should contact them directly to check the status of their flight in time.

The statement stressed that although they have no control over the strikes, the Hungarian airline will do its best to minimise disruption.

June 2, 2023

Wizz Air to begin operation at brand new airport this year

The Brasov airport will open in two weeks. On 10 and 11 June, the opening will be marked by two open days with concerts, programmes, air shows and shows for the public. On 15 June, the official ceremony and the first flight will take place.

The opening of Aeroportul Internațional Brașov-Ghimbav

Officially known as Aeroportul Internațional Brașov-Ghimbav, it cost around EUR 120 million to build. The airfield made headlines in Romania not only because it is a new airport, but also because the Swedish SAAB and the Romanian UTI have installed the first virtual control tower in Eastern Europe and Romania here, turizmus.com reports.

The first flight will bring the officials on 15 June on a Tarom plane from Bucharest. From the second half of June, the Romanian Dan Air will fly to Brussels, London and Barcelona. A flight to Budapest was also planned earlier but later cancelled.

CJB chairman Adrian Veştea told a press conference that the aim is to reach one million passengers a year by 2026, but that this would require an urgent agreement with airlines such as Wizz Air, LOT, El Al, Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa. These are the airlines that have shown interest before.

Wizz Air in Brasov

On 6 April, Wizz Air announced that after the opening of the Brasov Airport, it will operate two flights from the Romanian city. These are London-Luton, with the first flight scheduled for 2 August 2023, and Dortmund, with flights starting from 2 September 2023, the airport reported back then in a Facebook post.

To London, there will be return flights every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Meanwhile, to and from Dortmund, there will be flights every Tuesday and Saturday.

Alexandru Anghel, the director of Brasov airport, is the one who has been in discussions with Wizz Air officials over the last few years. The first results are now materialising with these announced destinations, the post said.

June 2, 2023

Scandal at Budapest Airport: Not everyone got a seat on Wizz Air flight

Many passengers were outraged by the delay of a Wizz Air flight that was supposed to take off from Budapest Airport. After it became clear that not everyone had a seat because of overbooking, one passenger boarded the plane without permission. The flight attendants tried to take action, but they behaved aggressively and police had to be called.

Budapest-Naples Wizz Air flight delayed

All passengers were disembarked and Wizz Air’s Thursday morning Budapest-Naples flight was delayed for several hours after unauthorised passengers got on board, a Hungarian tabloid, Blikk reported. The Hungarian low-cost airline confirmed the incident to the news portal. They say that due to the Europa League final in Budapest, there was much more traffic than usual at Liszt Ferenc International Airport on 1 June. They added that the flight concerned could not depart on schedule.

Some of the passengers were outraged by the delay. After it became clear that there were not enough seats for everyone due to overbooking, one passenger boarded the plane against the request of the staff.

Overbooking was the reason

As it turned out, it was the fault of the ground handling staff that allowed him to get on board. As there were one more passenger on board than there were seats available, the aircraft was unable to take off. The flight attendants tried to take action, but the passenger in question showed aggressive behaviour and they had to call the police.

Due to the incident, all passengers had to be disembarked and boarding resumed.

The four passengers who were reportedly violent were not allowed to board the plane again. Wizz Air has apologised for the inconvenience and offered compensation and free rebooking to those affected. However, noone wanted to take up the offer. Thus, the flight could not take off until around noon instead of 7 AM.

June 2, 2023

Wizz Air suspends important flights from autumn

Wizz Air will suspend some of its international flights from Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara airports from the end of October this year, among other flights.

Wizz Air flights cancelled in Romania

According to the 2023-2024 timetable, flights from Catania (Italy), Larnaca (Cyprus), Liverpool (UK), Luqa (Malta) and Naples (Italy) will not operate from Cluj-Napoca, Krónika Online reports.

Furthermore, it will no longer be possible to fly from Timișoara to Treviso in Italy with the Hungarian low-cost airline from the indicated date.

These are not the only flights that Wizz Air will have to say goodbye to: in Bucharest, flights to Aarhus (Denmark), Alghero (Italy), Malmö (Sweden) and Santander (Spain), and in Iași (Jászvásár), flights to Catania and Treviso (Italy) will be withdrawn.

Although airlines formally use the term “suspension” in such cases, it is rare for affected flights to resume within a short time, Krónika Online concludes.

Summer flights to be cancelled

As we wrote last week, it is more than possible that these will not be the only flights the Hungarian low-cost airline will have to cancel. What is more, due to engline failure problems, cancelling flights will be a global phenomenon this summer.

May 31, 2023

Many summer flights cancelled due to engine failure?

The problem is with the new generation engines made by the American Pratt & Whitney. They need mending so frequently that estimates talk about 3,000 flights that will be cancelled because of them during the summer season. The engine crisis affects multiple flights to and from Hungary and concerns Wizz Air aircraft.

According to portfolio.hu, demand rose after the COVID pandemic for a new generation, low-consumption engines. However, these need more frequent maintenance causing problems for the aviation industry. The engines need thorough examination after at least 850 operating hours, regardless of their state.

However, the engines made by the American Pratt & Whitney need frequent maintenance, and, on top of that, the operation lasts too long. That is because the supply of auxiliary components struggles with problems. To make matters worse, the engines were built in 1,228 Airbus A319neo, A320neo and A321neo aircraft. Moreover, 226 A220 jets and 70 Embraer E2s fly with them.

The engine error concerns Wizz Air

As a result, at the beginning of May, the Indian low-cost airline, Go First declared bankruptcy. Based on portfolio.hu, the engine crisis affects the Hungarian budget airline, Wizz Air as well. As hvg.hu news portal assumes, that might mean cancelling several Wizz flights during the summer period, which is bad news for the holidaymakers. We wrote HERE what the new Airbus A321neo Wizz aircraft will look like.

Furthermore, the problem does not help solve tensions concerning the sensitive demand-supply balance. On top of that, it increases prices or at least balks their decrease. Based on the research of an Italian newspaper, La Economia, the problem concerns Air Baltic, Swiss (Lufthansa), Turkish Airlines, Spirit Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Hong Kong Express Airways, JetBlue, Air Tanzania, Air Senegal, IndiGo, Air Asia, Air India, Batik Air, and Iraqi Airways.

The paper cited Martin Gauss, the CEO of Air Baltic, who said last March that the extended delivery times of the engines after maintenance by Pratt & Whitney are causing operational interruptions. As a result, they are forced to cancel flights or routes. Mr Gauss added that “in normal situations, an engine sent for repair might not be available for 60-90 days. But in this case, we are talking about a year.” He shared a horror story with his audience in Brussels when an engine returned to them after 386 days.

Wizz Air reacted to the article

The maintenance problems caused by the new generation of engines affect the whole industry, so singling out Wizz Air in this way is not justified, the statement said. The cancellations are not justified either, they stressed.

May 28, 2023

Wizz Air owes millions of euros to passengers

Wizz Air, a Budapest-based ultra-low-cost carrier, has faced criticism and legal issues due to its rapid expansion and operational challenges. It has been revealed that the airline owes nearly GBP 5 million in refunds to British passengers.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) condemned Wizz Air for its appalling treatment of passengers and a high number of unresolved customer complaints. Despite its success as Europe’s third-largest budget airline, the rapid expansion has come with its fair share of issues, writes Sunday Times.

Unmet reimbursement obligations

Wizz Air’s business scheme resulted in a significant backlog of refund payments owed to the British public. Despite the airline’s assurances that it was actively addressing outstanding county court judgments (CCJs), as of 5 May 2023, up to four court orders per day were still being issued against Wizz Air. Investigation into the matter revealed a staggering total of 881 CCJs against the airline. This amounted to nearly GBP 5 million in outstanding refunds. Individual claims ranged from GBP 47 to GBP 10,358.

This failure to resolve refund payments has drawn criticism from passengers and official bodies alike. In December, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) condemned Wizz Air for its unacceptable treatment of passengers. It highlighted, for instance, the significantly higher number of unresolved complaints compared to other airlines. To address these concerns, the CAA granted Wizz Air a deadline until January to settle the CCJs. However, the airline’s performance continued to decline.

Passengers seeking compensation from the airline often face challenges and delays in the claim process. While the law entitles passengers to compensation ranging from GBP 220 to GBP 520 for flight delays of two hours or more, Wizz Air’s resolution process has been slow and inefficient. Some passengers have been waiting for refunds since April 2018.

Wizz Air’s response

In response to the mounting criticism, Wizz Air launched a new marketing campaign focused on a “renewed commitment to customers ahead of the peak summer season” with the slogan “The Future is PINK — Punctual, Innovative, New, and Knowledgeable.” The airline pledges to reduce cancellations, enhance customer experience and settle outstanding court obligations.

Wizz Air claims to have resolved the majority of CCJ cases and is in the process of updating court records accordingly. It asserts that all passengers will be reimbursed as soon as possible. The airline acknowledges its failure to meet service standards in the past, citing operational challenges during the pandemic. It also claims to have implemented significant changes, both structurally and organisationally, to improve customer service.

Despite the challenges faced, Wizz Air remains undeterred and plans to expand its operations. The airline predicts carrying an additional 15 million passengers this summer, reaching 170 percent of its pre-pandemic capacity. It aims to achieve this through an Abu Dhabi hub, offering routes to 27 countries across Europe, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean. Wizz Air has also introduced a subscription service called Wizz MultiPass, providing frequent flyers with one return flight per month at a cost ranging from GBP 4.60 to GBP 65.

May 26, 2023

Wizz Air launches new route to popular holiday destination

The second Wizz Air route to Turkey is now open, and it allows you to fly directly from Budapest to Antalya.

The route, which is the Hungarian airline’s fourth newly announced destination this year, follows the inauguration of its Istanbul network addition by almost two months. Tickets can be purchased via the website of Wizz Air or the airline’s mobile app.

Wizz Air’s ever-expanding network offers travellers more than 60 destinations from Hungary this year. The new flight is part of the airline’s wider expansion scheme, connecting Turkey with many other countries and cities. The expansion will cut travel time and thus make it easier and more affordable for passengers to reach many sought-after destinations.

Good news for beach lovers: this summer, Wizz Air will be launching flights from Budapest to Antalya, a popular leisure destination on the “Turkish Riviera”. In addition to the clean beaches, the city boasts countless picturesque sights, such as Kaleiçi its romantic old town, where visitors can enjoy a wide range of gastronomic and cultural experiences. The city, also known for its vibrant nightlife, offers plenty of family-friendly options for the perfect beach holiday.

“We are very pleased to announce the launch of a new service with our largest partner, Wizz Air to Antalya, known for its stunning beaches and rich cultural heritage. Türkiye continues to be one of the most popular destinations among Hungarian travellers and the opening of Wizz Air will allow a bigger crowd to discover this magical country.” – said Balázs Bogáts, Deputy Chief Commercial Officer of Budapest Airport.

May 25, 2023

Hungary fully supports Moldova’s EU integration

The Hungarian governmet will provide “every assistance” to Moldova’s endeavours to join the European Union, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Chisinau on Wednesday.

Following talks with his Moldovan counterpart Nicu Popescu, Szijjártó highligthed the geopolitical appreciation of the Eastern Partnership programme, and urged the earliest enlargement of the EU as well as promoting closer ties with countries in the region.

The foreign ministry quoted Szijjártó as noting the “strong positions” of Hungarian retail bank OTP and pharma Richter in Moldova’s markets, adding that bilateral trade had posted a record 200 million euros last year.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó regretted that WizzAir had temporarily suspended its operations in Moldova, and said he hoped services would be resumed “once security quarantees are in place”. The governments of Hungary and Moldova are both interested in having a direct flight between their capitals and “would like to convince WizzAir to return as soon as possible,” he said.

Szijjártó also said the Hungarian government supported a roaming-fee agreement between the EU and Moldova, which would “also strengthen connections”.

On another subject, Szijjártó said NATO members would not be reimbursed for earlier contributions aimed to finance the Afghan military, and expressed the Hungarian government’s wish to use some of the funds, HUF 120 million (EUR 322,000), to strengthen the security of Moldova. He said Moldova was situated “on the eastern border of the European Political Community, therefore we are mutually interested in each other’s security.”

Earlier in the day, Szijjártó met Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Economic Development Minister Dumitru Alaiba, Sergiu Prodan, the minister of culture.

On Hungary’s energy diversification, Szijjártó said the start of gas deliveries from Azerbaijan, slated for later this year, would be an important step. The political agreement has been signed already, and trade talks have also been successful, he said. Hungary expects to receive 100 million cubic meters of gas this year already, he said.

At the same time, development of south-eastern European infrastructure is key to the success of the project, he said. Current capacities would not be enough to make a difference in energy diversification, he added.

“This is a task for the European Union. [South-east European countries] are right to expect the EU to fund developments to increase gas delivery capacities,” he said.

Chisinau hosts a meeting of the European Political Community on June 1, which is expected to bring a “decision on developing transport and energy ties between the EU and its border territories,” he said.

“We find it unacceptable that the EU rejects funding natural gas infrastructure, and see gas as an important pillar of energy security at present and in the coming years,” he said. Gas from Azerbaijan is a key alternative for Hungary and Moldova too, he said.

May 25, 2023

Flights from Budapest for the summer for pennies

Despite it already being the middle of May, it is still not hopeless to find cheap flights for the summer. Many beautiful places in Europe are waiting for us – and we can get there for relatively low prices.

Even in the middle of May, it’s not impossible to find cheap low-cost summer tickets, Pénzcentrum writes. Relatively cheap tickets to Milan, Bologna, Venice, Zadar or Rimini are still available at low-cost airlines.

Timing makes a big difference when it comes to buying flight tickets. According to some travel advisers, the sooner the better; however, this is not always the case. Dynamic pricing, or demand-based pricing, is a sophisticated pricing strategy. It means that the price is reviewed and fine-tuned several times a day depending on the supply and demand situation, Pénzcentrum explains. It is now used in an increasing number of places, even hotels.

This is why it is not impossible to find cheap low-cost tickets for the summer, even in mid-May. Utazómajom has collected 10 such tickets for under HUF 20,000 (EUR 53.34). It’s important to know that the lowest fare only includes a carry-on bag of the dimensions listed on the particular airline’s website.

10 cheap European flights for the summer

Here are the 10 flights for this summer for under HUF 20,000:

7 days Poznań, Poland: 7-13 June, Ryanair – HUF 10,516 (EUR 28)
5 days Warsaw, Poland: 7-11 June, Ryanair+Wizz Air – HUF 15,955 (EUR 42,48)
7 days Târgu Mures, Romania: 16-22 June, Wizz Air – HUF 14,443 (EUR 38.46)
8 days Milan (MXP), Italy: 30 May – 6 June, Wizz Air – HUF 14,682 (EUR 39.10)
8 days Nuremberg, Germany: 6-13 June, Ryanair – HUF 13,965 (EUR 37.19)
8 days Bologna, Italy: 8-15 June, Ryanair – HUF 13,931 (EUR 37.10)
8 days Venice, Italy: 20-27 May, Ryanair – HUF 14,374 (EUR 38.28)
8 days Zadar, Croatia: 14-21 June, Ryanair – HUF 17,642 (EUR 46.98)
8 days Rimini, Italy: 27 May – 3 June, Ryanair – HUF 18,478 (EUR 49.28)
8 days Rome, Italy: 30 May – 6 June, Ryanair – HUF 19,666 (EUR 52.37)

Budapest Airport to develop Eastern connections instead of Transatlantic

A direct flight from Ningbo, a Chinese city of almost 10 million people less than 200 kilometres from Shanghai, will soon be available to Budapest, Budflyer, an aviation news blog, reports based on Chinese newspapers.

There have been many business and economic events between Ningbo and Hungary in the recent past. The city’s trade mission was the first to launch charter flights to Budapest during the waning days of the Covid-19 epidemic, in order to establish and strengthen trade links between important companies in China and the Central and Eastern European region, Budflyer writes.

If the flight is launched, Hungary will be the first European link for the airport.

May 19, 2023

Hungarian Wizz Air starts new data roaming service helping all passengers

Hungary’s low-cost airline, Wizz Air, initiated a brand-new season ticket this month. Now, they announced the introduction of another innovative scheme, the so-called eSIM service. The new option will help you get a high-quality and reliable mobile data service in 150 countries. Furthermore, you may use it for 12 months, and it is capable of 5G. However, it can be adapted to only the newer smartphone models.

“Say No to fiddly plastic cards and high roaming charges”, the Hungarian low-cost airline, says about its brand-new service, the eSim. “Just scan our QR code and install your data roaming package as an eSIM or “embedded SIM” in a matter of minutes”, the airline says.

However, not all mobile phones are supported. Among the iPhones, only XS and up (2018), while in the case of the Android models, only the newer ones. The service helps the user access low-cost, 5G enabled – where available – mobile data in over 150 countries worldwide, without having to switch over physical SIMs. HERE is the list of eSIM-capable phones.

How to buy this new Wizz Air service?

“All you need to do is select your place of destination, and your preferred eSIM data roaming package at checkout, and upon completion, you will receive a QR code to scan. You can then start consuming data in seconds by following the simple eSIM activation instructions. Upon payment checkout, you need to enter your e-mail address and you will receive an email from us for your QR codes and a link to create your account where you will manage your eSIM’s.

Your eSIM bundle duration starts when you first use data enabling you to buy your eSIM up to 12 months before you travel. When you install your eSIM, please ensure data roaming is enabled for your eSIM and that Mobile data is configured in your phone settings to use the eSIM you have purchased.

Re-use and save even more!

Your eSIM can be topped up and reused up to 12 months after your last trip. With over 150 countries supported worldwide, we have you covered wherever you go. You can also purchase data plans for your loved ones so you can manage all the eSIMs in one account and also share the QR codes for those people whom you have purchased eSIM’s for.

You will receive an SMS notification once you have started to use your package and also when you have reached 80% and 100% of your allocated data so you can top up after entering into your account.”

May 18, 2023

Shocking video: Wizz Air plane was about to land, then suddenly started to ascend

wizz air madeira overshoot undidentified flying object

A Wizz Air flight from Budapest landed in Madeira on the second attempt. One of the Hungarian low-cost airline’s Airbus aircraft was preparing to land when it suddenly performed a steep overshoot.

A video of the incident was published on the Youtube channel of Madeira Airport Spotting. The description of the video informed that the plane had already landed successfully on the second attempt, Index reports.

May 17, 2023

Director of brand new airport talks about daily flights to Budapest

After the Bucharest-based airline Dan Air cancelled their Brasov-Budapest flight, the director of Brasov airport announced something everyone has been waiting for. Alexandru Anghel declared that he is in talks with another airline to launch a daily flight on this route.

Dan Air cancels Brasov-Budapest flight

Dan Air recently announced that it is cancelling both its Budapest and Milan flights. However, it is increasing the number of its flights from Brasov to Munich and Nuremberg to two a week. After these adjustments, Dan Air will operate a total of nine scheduled routes to and from Otopeni airport in Bucharest, boardingpass.ro reported.

Following the cancellation of the Brasov-Budapest flight by Dan Air, Alexandru Anghel, the director of Brasov airport, announced that he is in talks with another airline to launch a daily flight on this route, Bună Ziua Brașov reported.

But not all is lost – new airline’s Budapest route is in the making

In addition to Budapest, Anghel is also discussing Paris and Tel Aviv as new destinations. The director added that after the opening of Brasov airport on 15 June, things will be easier. As he said, “I think that from 15 June it will be much easier, because operators will see that the airport is operational and will be able to take decisions more easily”.

Mr Anghel announced on Thursday, May 11, that “we have advanced talks to start flights to Budapest, Paris, Tel Aviv. As far as Budapest is concerned, daily flights are being discussed.”

Plans for the future at Brasov airport

The director said that the cancellation of some flights is not surprising. “In the aviation market, 15-16 percent of flights are closed. But others are opening. We have to expect that more and more flights will also be closed. The important thing is to end a year with more flights than in the previous year. Now, Brasov’s handicap is that it has no history. The market is now being built and I think we have to thank Dan Air for entering a new market,” Anghel explained.

Wizz Air will also start flights from August and September between Brasov – London and Brasov – Dortmund. The airport director added that TAROM could also fly from Brasov, but it all depends on the reorganisation plan of the state company. “TAROM is now under monitoring, being in a reorganisation plan. Under these conditions they cannot open new destinations. Once they pass this stage, Brasov is on TAROM’s list,” Bună Ziua Brașov quoted Anghel as saying.

May 16, 2023

Wizz Air promises less delays and cancellations, spends lots of money on it

As we all know that last year was a year full of challenges for Wizz Air. Not everything went they way the Hungarian low-cost airline planned and wanted. However, this year will be different, promises Wizz Air. But what were the main problems and how are they planning to fix them?

Wizz Air’s press conference on 11 May started with the following statement: “Last year was a challenging year”. They explained that this was mainly due to capacity problems in air traffic control across Europe. This basically generated the problems, and also doubled the time to get parts, Telex reports.

However, Wizz Air’s market has grown over the past year. 2022 was the first summer without restrictions since the pandemic, so they have expanded. This year, they have 181 planes available, up from 119 last year. The airline is aiming for 200 by the end of the year. The renewal of the fleet is also reflected in the purchase by British Airways of three 10-year-old aircraft from Wizz’s previous fleet.

The company’s communications manager, András Radó, said that before the pandemic, their flights were averaging 98 percent load factor. Now, it’s 80 percent, but it’s steadily increasing summer is approaching. They do not depart with half-empty planes: not only for economic reasons but also for environmental reasons. Rather, they prefer to reduce ticket prices.

But what about delays and cancellations?

Most news about Wizz Air recently have been about these problems. They said they they’ve learned the lessons. They know what they need to improve, especially in terms of communication and the way the website works, and they’re working on that. According to their own data, they have completed 99.8 percent of their flights this year.

Strikes are ongoing in Central Europe, they recall. France in particular facing a critical situation and wage negotiations are underway in Germany. Many air traffic controllers have resigned during and after the pandemic. Replacing them is not easy, Wizz Air laments, as it takes 2-3 years to train such professionals. This is often the reason for airline delays.

Here’s an advice from Wizz: if you have both morning and afternoon flights to your destination, it’s worth choosing the morning one. Also, if you’re travelling on time for an event, you should consider leaving a day earlier.

Miscommunication

In recent high-profile incidents, such as Madeira, Wizz Air admitted that it had miscommunicated. Complaints often include a lack of passenger information, which the airline says is 90 percent from passengers who have bought their tickets from an online ticketing site rather than directly from them. The airline’s messages then reach these intermediaries, who do not always pass them on to the passengers.

It’s not going to be an easy summer: this is a phrase repeatedly uttered by Wizz Air communication staff during the press conference. They said they were preparing for the hot season with an outlay of around EUR 100 million. They would improve passenger communications, have five spare planes in case a flight is needed and have increased their call-centre team.

May 13, 2023

Incredible innovation at Wizz Air: plane fuelled with waste oils took off

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend testing began by Mol, Wizz Air and Liszt Ferenc International Airport in Hungary. Wizz Air is ready to further lower its emission rates.

On 10 May, the first commercial Wizz Air flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) took off to Paris, MTI reports. The fuel mixture was supplied by Mol and the Finnish company Neste.

According to napi.hu, three aircraft were fuelled with a total of 23.5 tonnes of a blend containing 37 percent pure SAF and 63 percent Jet A1 jet fuel. This “new generation” jet fuel being tested is made from renewable waste and residual raw materials. It is also produced in a sustainable way. The Neste fuel is compatible with existing aircraft engines and airport infrastructure, so it does not require any investment to use it.

Napi.hu’s analysis also mentions that the use of SAF reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80 percent over the life cycle of the fuel compared to fossil jet fuel.

Csaba Zsótér, Managing Director of the Mol Group’s Fuel Business Unit, said at the press conference that their strategic goal is to launch a circular economy in the region, and sustainable aviation fuel can help them achieve this.

“Our strategic goal is to kick-start the region’s circular economy and make our operations carbon neutral by 2050. We are continuously testing new technologies and developing our products to strengthen the region’s security of supply with low carbon fuels and accelerate the green transition,” Csaba Zsótér is quoted by napi.hu.

Wizz Air is ready to further lower its emissions

The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air’s Director of Sustainability, Yvonne Moynihan, said Wizz Air has the lowest carbon emissions per passenger kilometre compared to its competitors and is continually striving to further reduce emissions.

The testing of sustainable jet fuel proves that industry collaboration is one of the most effective ways to address the challenges of climate change, she added. The airline, which has a sustainability strategy, aims to reduce its carbon emissions by a further 25 percent by 2030, said Yvonne Moynihan.

Meanwhile, Wizz Air is continuing its expansion as its close to getting the necessary permissions to fly to South Asia’s 8th most populous country.

May 13, 2023

Here is how much Wizz Air’s season ticket, the Wizz Multipass will cost!

For the time being, Wizz Air’s Wizz Multipass will be available for international routes from Poland and domestic Italian flights. Some information on the cost of the service has been leaked. Read on to find out how much you will have to pay for a Wizz Multipass!

As we reported, the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air is launching season tickets for certain flights. Now, some information on the price of these passes has been leaked, airportal.hu reports.

Wizz Air has yet to officially announce specific prices and exact rules. However, Polish users have already found the likely prices of the “airfare pass” on the website, fly4free.pl writes. The Polish site also undescores that this may change.

According to the site, there will be two types of season tickets for international routes from Poland and domestic Italian routes: either one-way or return tickets with a 6-month subscription.

The basic monthly pass will cost HUF 19,500 and 39,000 (EUR 5.22 and 105.33) for the Polish version and HUF 13,700 and 27,400 (EUR 37 and 73.99) for the Italian version.

In return, the subscriber will receive a voucher for 1 flight ticket per month (one-way or return) which can be redeemed for flights departing in 5 days at the earliest. The season tickets can be extended, for example, with priority service or checked baggage, at an extra cost.

The Multipass is a six-month commitment, according to the Polish portal. It cannot be cancelled before that, and monthly tokens cannot be carried over to the next month. This means that they are lost if not used.

May 12, 2023