MEP Gyöngyösi: Common sense wins, internal combustion engines to stay in EU
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MEP Márton Gyöngyösi’s (Non-attached) thoughts via press release:
The right to free travel, free movement and freely choosing your residence is a basic human right that forms a foundation of any democratic society. It also happens to be a right that was key to the rise of Europe. There is no welfare society that would not respect the right to free movement.
But let’s be realistic: when it comes to covering large distances in the 21st century, nearly everyone uses the power of machines. Personal (and freight) mobility is characterized by automobiles.
While a hobby for some, driving is the only way for millions of Europeans to commute, meet their loved ones and organize their daily lives. In Hungary, where rural public transport has been withering away for years to the point where many small villages can only be reached by public transport with great difficulty, if at all, driving is vitally important.
Consequently, driving is a very important social issue as well.
The price and conditions for getting a reliable and preferably comfortable personal transport vehicle is a key factor in people’s economic security and quality of life. No wonder that even the re-establishing Communist regime quickly restored the right to own a car soon after the 1956 Revolution as one of its first “pacifying” measures.
The European Union completely ignored the importance of this issue when it decided to ban the registration of new vehicles with internal combustion engines in the EU’s territory after 2035. The decision would have meant that if you were to buy a new vehicle, your only option would have been an electric one in just 13 years.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not against e-mobility at all, in fact, I am always looking forward to the latest updates in electric car technology.
On the other hand, it is also a fact that the buying price of an electric car is roughly double that of an internal combustion car with the same size, while its usability, although constantly improving, is still quite limited, because the network of charging stations is still underdeveloped, with Central Europe unfortunately lagging behind in this area as well. On top of that, charging an electric car takes longer than filling the gas tank, while even the high-end luxury e-cars can only cover, at best, as much distance with one charge as a small gas-powered car.
I am convinced that e-cars have a future, but if you consider how it took roughly 60 years for internal combustion engines to get from the first car to the vehicles that did not require higher-than-average technical aptitude to handle, you can realize it would be unfair to expect e-cars to become able to cross continents in just a couple of years.
Especially, if their manufacturers are under no competitive pressure whatsoever to develop their technology.
That’s why I was so happy about last weekend’s agreement that the production of vehicles with internal combustion engines may continue after 2035, as long as these automobiles are powered by climate-neutral fuel. I believe this is an adequate compromise, which still allows people to choose from different options while also urging e-car manufacturers to keep adjusting the prices and ranges of their vehicles to those of internal combustion automobiles.
As opposed to social engineers and the avid supporters of green utopian ideologies, I, as a centre-right conservative politician believe that even the most necessary changes must not be implemented in a hasty, unthoughtful way. Yes, humanity must minimize pollutant emissions, but it must not come at the price of undermining people’s lives by forcing a technology that is hardly affordable for even the middle class in Western Europe… Not to mention Hungary, Poland or Bulgaria, for that matter!
I think this agreement is an important guarantee that equally serves the interest of the people, technological advancement and, ultimately, e-mobility as well.
Disclaimer: the sole liability for the opinions stated rests with the author(s). These opinions do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Parliament.
VIDEO: The asphalt blossoms on a charming Budapest street
Mester Street is one of the most atmospheric and popular streets in the Hungarian capital, Budapest. Now, the greening of the street continues. The pavement will be torn up to thin the asphalt and replaced with flowers.
New flower beds and plant containers will be created by breaking up the pavement at the sites selected during the community planning process, says the FŐKERT.
Mester Street is charming as it is, with its huge, intertwining tree-lined street, napi.hu writes. However, there is still a large area of asphalt at ground level. This will be improved this year by a Community Budget project to green Mester Street.
The first phase of the renovation will start on 27 March, with tree maintenance work on the stretch between Haller Street and Bokréta Street. From 1 April onwards, it will continue on the section between Bokréta Street and Ferenc Boulevard.
Traffic restrictions are expected on the affected sections from 27 March.
Afterwards, six sections of Mester Street will be paved with plant containers. These will be planted with perennial plants of different colours, sizes and habitats. A total of 13 different species of plants will be growing and glowing along the street, each in a different season.
The project is independent from, but fully in line with, the major renovation works planned by the Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) later on. We wrote about the plans in detail HERE.
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Swiss wolf still on the loose in Hungary
The male Swiss wolf we wrote about before and who carries the transmitter sign „M237″ reached the Bükk National Park in Northeast Hungary. Currently, he is roaming around the Eastern areas of Nógrád county, the national park wrote on its website.
According to origo.hu, the male comes from the Southern slopes of the Alps. He swam through the Danube River and continued its migration near the Naszály mountain. The Bükk National Park said that multiple wolves live there and, thanks to the transmitter, they can make interesting observations about the animal. On 17 March, the wolf was in the territory of Duna-Ipoly National Park.
To protect the wandering wolf, the Bükk National Park established contact with the hunting company and the local chief hunter.
- Read also: A Swiss wolf is roaming around Budapest
Featured image: illustration
FM Szijjártó is afraid of an ‘unmanageable migration crises’
Unless the international community takes global challenges around water seriously, the world could face more international conflicts and unmanageable migration crises, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said, addressing the United Nations 2023 Water Conference in New York on Friday.
Humanity is facing its most complex challenges yet with regards to security, the economy and health, Szijjártó told the conference’s plenary session, according to a foreign ministry statement. Many of these challenges pertain to nature, he said, noting that natural disasters were becoming increasingly common and tended to lead to greater food shortages.
Challenges around water deserve special attention, the minister said, noting that they are the cause of around 70 percent of natural disaster-related deaths. Forecasts show that by 2050, three billion people will be living in areas hit by droughts, 1.6 billion in flood-prone areas and 2.2 billion people will not have access to clean drinking water, Szijjártó warned, noting that a daily 1,000 children die worldwide due to drinking polluted water.
“All these alarming facts and data show very clearly that water will be a real security risk in the future,” Szijjártó said, adding that water-related challenges could also trigger armed conflicts as well as mass migration waves. The minister noted the “enormous efforts” Hungary has had to make over the last seven years to protect its borders from illegal migrants “who usually behave very aggressively and show absolutely no respect to our rules and regulations”.
This is also a matter of sovereignty, he said, arguing that no one had the right to violate Hungary’s borders or infringe on Hungarians’ right to decide whom they want to live together with. The dangers of migration can also be seen within the European Union, which, despite the efforts aimed at integrating migrants, has seen the emergence of parallel societies, a rise in the threat of terrorism and a faster spread of viruses, Szijjártó said.
“So migration is a dangerous phenomenon and must be stopped” by tackling the root causes, he said, adding it was clear that water challenges were among the most severe of those causes.
Hungary is ready to do its share in tackling these root causes, Szijjártó said, noting that the country has developed world-class water management technologies. Hungary has recently launched 800 million euros worth of tied-aid schemes and international development programmes based on its water technologies in countries such as Vietnam, Laos, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, Kenya, Rwanda, Mali, Cape Verde, Ecuador and Kyrgyzstan, he said.
Szijjártó called on the international community to take the challenges around water seriously, underscoring the importance of monitoring countries’ fulfilment of their commitments in line with the UN’s sustainable development goals. If the world does not take the water-related challenges seriously, more international conflicts will break out and millions will migrate, which will lead to unmanageable migration challenges, Szijjártó said.
“It would be much better to avoid that,” Szijjártó said. “Hungary stands ready to contribute.”
Read alsoU.S. report finds serious human rights problems in Hungary
PHOTOS: Budapest’s renewed City Park will have more green areas
The development of Budapest’s City Park is continuing with the renewal of green areas as part of the Liget project, the ministerial commissioner in charge of the programme said on Thursday.
Since the parliamentary approval of the law on the Liget project ten years ago, several outdoor facilities have been opened to the public, including the Grand Playground, a sports centre, a 2km running circuit, sport fields and a promenade along Dózsa György Street, László Baán told a press conference. Under the project, more than 250,000sqms of green areas have been so far rejuvenated and 75,000sqms of concrete surfaces removed, he said. Baan noted that so far over 200,000 perennial plants, some 70,000 shrubs, 500 trees and 130 pine trees have been planted.
Benedek Gyorgyevics, the chief executive of the company managing the project, said that a 25,000sqm former driving test range has been greened over with more than 20,000 perennial plants and 5,600 shrubs planted. The area around the popular sight-seeing balloon will also be greened, along with the park area in between Kós Károly Esplanade and Hermina and Konrad Adenauer Roads, he said.
Baan noted that in the past years, the renewed City Park, which includes the celebrated House of Music Hungary and the new Ethnographic Museum, has attracted 5 million visitors.
Read alsoThis map shows you all the green areas and parks in Budapest
Hungary spends a lot of money on flood defence
Flood defence dykes will be reinforced to a value of 3.9 billion forints (EUR 10.3m) on two tributaries of River Tisza, in northeast Hungary, with the help of Hungarian and European Union funding, the communications company for the project said on Friday.
Dykes along the rivers Kraszna and Batar will be reinforced along a total length of 22 kms, also making the riverside suitable for cycling, the statement said. A lock and mobile pumping station will be rebuilt on the Batar and the programme will also cover the acquisition of equipment required for maintenance and operation, it added. The development is necessary for flood defence on the Upper Tisza.
Read alsoPositive change at Wizz Air: Hungarian agency satisfied
Hungarian opposition turns to EC over battery plant in Hungary
The opposition Párbeszéd party has lodged a complaint with the European Commission over the planned construction of a battery plant in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, saying that the plant was approved without adequate environmental impact studies.
Benedek Jávor, the party’s advisor on European Union affairs, told a press conference on Tuesday that the environmental impact and potential risks were not assessed adequately, and a long-term impact study was missing completely.
The plan was green-lighted without consideration of its impact on underground water reserves and the connected ecosystems, Jávor said. The water reserves around Debrecen are already overused, and would warrant a review of already existing permits, he said. Approving access for a plant with a daily demand of at least 20,000-25,000 cubic metres of water runs afoul of the European Union’s Water Framework Directive, he said.
The plant will also impact protected areas by further depleting underground water reserves, he said.
Read alsoHungary becomes China’s battery colony?
An explosion has shaken a Hungarian county
A mine explosion shook Heves county over the weekend and people living in Recsk made complaints that they were not warned in advance. Some residents were so scared that they fled their homes in panic.
An explosion shook Heves county
Residents of the villages of Heves County experienced two explosions over the weekend. This was not the first time that detonations were detected by local residents, writes Index. On 7 February, the residents of Heves county heard explosion-like sounds. The Kövesligethy Radó Seismological Observatory also indicated at the time that they had detected phenomena similar to an earthquake, which they believed could have been caused by an explosion.
Later, local disaster management was also asked whether they were aware of any kind of explosion, but they gave a negative reply. The National Guard was also contacted after the incident. They admitted that their machines were in operation on Tuesday, and this could have caused a sonic boom, but they considered it unlikely that all of this could have been detected by the measuring instruments of the seismological observatory, as well as by the locals.
It turned out to be a mine explosion
Since then, there were two more explosions on Friday in Heves County. As it turned out, explosions were carried out in one of the mines that was being reopened. However, as residents were not informed about the situation, some of them were so scared that they fled their homes in panic. LMP posted a Facebook video about the worried residents who explained they had no idea about the cause of the explosion.
“I was half-asleep when I noticed that my bed started shaking. The glasses kept clinking to one another in the cupboard. Finally, we ran out into the street”, said a local woman.”We should have received information about the explosion. At the last meeting, the contractor said that at the time of the first explosion, he would be present and we would get through it together. We have not received any information on the date though,” said a local resident. They also added that they would like the mayor to take action regarding the matter.
The opening of the mine divides the locals
A company based in Debrecen started mining activities in Recsk and locals are divided on the matter, reports heol.hu. However, it does not seem likely that an explosion would have occurred in Recsk on Tuesday, as the detonations were then reported from the other, southeastern part of Heves county.
Green opposition launches petition against new battery plants in Hungary
Opposition LMP has launched a nationwide petition to “make sure that battery plants cannot be constructed without the consent of the people,” party co-leader Erzsébet Schmuck said on Monday.
LMP has already launched a national referendum drive, currently pending approval of the National Election Committee, Schmuck told a press conference at Budapest’s Nyugati Square, one of the sites where the party is collecting signatures.
The government “has been long hatching plans” to turn Hungary into a “bridge” between western car manufacturers and eastern battery producers, she said. By 2020, Hungary was second in the European Union in battery production, and all production phases save raw material production are present in the country today, she said.
Schmuck insisted that eastern foreign battery producers were drawn to the country by the “dismantled environmental protection system” and the market advantages of having plants in an EU member state. Hungarian workforce is cheap, and “it looks like there is always enough farmland available”, she said. The 200 hectare industrial park in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, the site of a planned plant of Chinese manufacturer CATL, was built on high quality farmland, she added.
Máté Kanász-Nagy, LMP’s deputy group leader, said the party has initiated a meeting of parliament’s sustainable development committee. He said he hoped that Energy Minister Csaba Lantos and Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, would attend the meeting on Tuesday.
Read alsoHungarian green party calls for a referendum on the establishment of battery factories
PHOTOS, VIDEO: Huge green park to be built in Budapest
A new 9,000-square-metre public park will be built this year in Újpest, District IV in Budapest. The park will serve as an extension to the main square, which was established in 2010 on the initiative of deputy mayor Dr Norbert Trippon.
The plans
As the park will be a part of the main square, with 9,000 square meters of landscaped green space, this project is considered quite unique in Budapest. The deputy mayor was pleased to share the news with 24.hu:
The 9,000-square-metre public park is an integral continuation of the main square project, which was built in 2010, on my initiative and under my leadership, during my previous term as deputy mayor. I believe that it will be a real curiosity in a metropolitan environment, and will be a regular meeting point for people living here and visiting the city.
The grassland will cover an area of more than 5,000 square metres. In addition, planting and other multifunctional areas are also included in the plan. As part of this, more than 100 trees will be planted and 770 square metres will be covered with a variety of flowers and other plants.
The park will include several small areas that will serve as community spaces or relaxation spots. Shaded by sun sails, these areas will be equipped with benches, chess tables and drinking fountains.
A greener district
In recent years, Újpest has benefited from a number of projects that have made the district more green and thus more liveable. 24.hu has also reported in detail on recent initiatives in the district, presenting a collection of successful green projects from the last few years.
One such green initiative is the lavender park, inaugurated in 2022, which has gained national recognition. What makes this park so special, besides the abundance of lavender, are the lovely purple benches, the selfie points, the solar-powered street lamps and the wildflower beds.
The local authority’s rainwater harvesting and composting programme is also exceptional. Under this programme, residents in the district can apply for rain barrels and compost bins.
In addition, the local government plants a lot of trees every spring and autumn. Furthermore, in co-operation with local volunteers and several organisations, they have launched a litter-picking campaign.
The huge green park being built this year fits in perfectly with these green projects. Work on the Green Square will start in mid-February, as part of the TÉR-KÖZ project. It is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2023, so that people can enjoy the park already this autumn.
Read alsoPHOTOS, VIDEO: Thousands of years old treasure found near Kecskemét
Chinese CATL plant in Debrecen receives another important regulatory approval for giga investment
An environmental permit applying “stricter conditions than ever before” has been issued for a battery plant China’s CATL will build in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, the Hajdú-Bihar County Government Office said on Monday.
The licencing procedure, among the “most thorough” of all official clearance processes, “ensures the investment complies with the strictest environmental protection conditions”, the office said.
The permit imposes a number of obligations on the investor related to protection of soil, air and water, it added.
“In a number of instances, the authority decided to require compliance with stricter thresholds than those stipulated by law and prescribed more frequent checks,” the office said.
The decision on the issue of the permit will become final on February 18.
CATL announced plans in August to build a more than EUR 7bn, 100 GWh battery plant in Hungary’s second-largest city.
Read alsoVIDEO: scandal in Debrecen, Chinese investors booed – UPDATED
Here are the localities where the air quality is deteriorating
Air quality due to pollution is deteriorating in several cities and towns in Hungary, the National Centre for Public Health (NNK) said on Wednesday.
Air quality is in the “dangerous” category in Putnok and is considered unhealthy in Ajka, Győr and Sajószentpéter, NNK said in a statement. Air quality was deemed poor in twelve other localities, it added. The current cold and dry weather makes it unlikely that the situation will improve in the coming days, they added. NNK warned that the high concentration of particulate matter in the air can cause eye and respiratory irritation.
HERE you may find a map concerning NNK’s findings. Green is OK, while red is dangerous.
Here is the first deodorant refill station invented by Hungarians
The concept of the automatic machine that refills spray deodorants was invented by two young Hungarians. The machines have so far been installed in three stores of the Rossmann drug store chain and will soon be available for use by customers.
Last Thursday the co-founders of Respray, Andor Réti and Gergely Zámbó presented their refill machine for spray deodorants at Rossmann in Budaörs, Hungary, szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu reports. As this technology is not currently used anywhere else, the innovation could soon be known worldwide.
A greener solution
The unique solution is designed to address the fundamental problems of aluminum can deodorants. Not only does the product end up in the trash after the end of its lifecycle, but the harmful chemicals also remain on deodorant cans even after they are emptied. And, because they contain liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), they are considered hazardous waste. Therefore, these products are highly polluting.
The Respray refilling station in turn has a mitigated environmental impact. First of all, it fills the container with compressed air instead of hazardous LPG. By using compressed air propellants, around 78 percent of the CO2 emissions of conventional spray deodorants can be eliminated.
You can buy empty bottles in the shop, and one container can be refilled a total of 5 times. In addition, as customers only have to buy the bottle once, they pay less for refills than for a new bottle of deodorant. So not only does it promise to be a greener solution, but it is also more cost-effective for shoppers. The exact prices were also given at the event when asked by hvg.hu.
A bottle costs HUF 599 (EUR 1.53) for the first fill, and HUF 299 (EUR 0.77) for each additional fills.
The refill station is currently only compatible with Rossmann’s own-brand product called Isana, and customers can choose from three fragrances.
How the refill station works
Once the empty bottle is purchased, the cap and nozzle must be removed. The machine itself recognises the packaging and fills the bottle with the fragrance of the product the customer has chosen. A screen is then used to confirm the purchase. It is important to note that only bottles that are completely intact can be refilled. The filling of the bottle is absolutely safe as the process takes place behind plexiglass. Plus, it only takes a few minutes.
Here are some additional photos:
Read alsoHome delivery by drones being tested in Hungary
Fidesz MEP proposal against greenwashing adopted at EC
The European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) on Monday adopted a proposal on greenwashing, proposed by Fidesz MEP Edina Tóth.
The resolution bans greenwashing and takes a stance against misleading consumers. “The decision to adopt the opinion is a major success as it protects European consumers from unfair practices, which is in Hungary’s interest,” Edina Tóth said.
- Read also: Design the painting of this Wizz Air plane!
In order for consumers to become “real participants” in the green transition, they need to receive adequate information, Tóth said. “According to EU surveys, nearly 40 percent of environment-related statements on products are false. The new regulations are expected to lead to a tightening of legislation,” she said.
“By adopting the proposal, we are ensuring new tools for consumers to make well-founded decisions and to increase the sustainability of our economies and products,” she said.
Read alsoHungary’s cheapest villages: EUR 7500 for a family house
No more battery factories to be installed in Hungary? National referendum initiative submitted
Opposition LMP has initiated a referendum to make setting up battery plants conditional on local citizens’ consent.
László Lóránt Keresztes, the head of parliament’s sustainable development committee, held a press conference after submitting the necessary documents at the National Election Office.
Protecting natural treasures and promoting national economic independence are key at a time of crises, he said.
The government’s decision to “turn Hungary into a battery manufacturing power” through political decisions goes contrary to those goals, he said. Battery manufacturing is also water and energy-consuming at a time when those resources are in short supply in the country, he said.
Keresztes insisted the government was not handling the environmental issues the battery plants have presented, and “took foreign investors’ side” without gauging locals’ views on the matter.
As we wrote earlier, a public hearing in Debrecen was disturbed by the booing and yelling of the residents of the Eastern Hungarian city. Representatives of the Chinese CATL battery manufacturer and the mayor of Debrecen attended the event to present a 7.4bn EUR investment to the locals, details HERE.
Read alsoHungarians may say ‘NO’ on gigantic Chinese investment on referendum?
Food and raw material prices skyrocket, yet Hungarians refuse to eat cheaper
Prices of cereals, eggs and milk rose the most in the EU last year among agricultural commodities. Not just that, but all but fruit became more expensive. In Hungary, the increase in not only food but also raw material prices has far exceeded that of other EU countries. Nevertheless, although Hungarians are saving money on their utility bills, they are not willing to give up eating meat.
The Human-Environment Transaction of ELTE’s Faculty of Education and Psychology conducted a representative survey, Index reports. The results show that almost the whole of Hungarian society (94.8 percent) would like to become more environmentally aware in the next year. Energy saving stands out, while reducing animal food consumption scores the lowest. This also means that while people are trying to save money on utility bills, they are not willing to do so on meat consumption.
Financial, regional and gender differences
The richer, central-Hungarian region plans to reduce its energy consumption the most. Meanwhile, Northern Hungary plans to reduce it the least. While men find it harder to go green, women find it easier. On top of that, more of them want to do so in the near future. The study focused on seven types of pollution-reducing actions that are accessible for all, Index writes. People were asked in which of these areas they planned to change in the next year to live more environmentally consciously.
Only 5.2 percent of the Hungarian adult population did not plan to become more environmentally aware in any area within a year. That is, in 2022, when the representative survey was conducted. Virtually all adults in Hungary have the intention to live more environmentally and climate friendly lives. The results show that there is a consensus that individuals can contribute to reducing pollution through their own actions.
While going green, Hungarians still do not want to give up eating meat
Despite trying to live greener and saving as much money as possible, people do not want to change their meat eating habits. This is especially interesting since the price of almost every foodstuff increased sharply in the near past. Inflation in most European countries hit decade highs last year. Food prices accounted for a significant share of the increase, napi.hu writes. Food inflation is largely due to higher prices for agricultural commodities and higher costs for farmers, Eurostat’s data shows.
- Read also: Hungarians are flocking abroad to buy fuel
Three main reasons for skyrocketing prices
According to the summary by the statistical office, there were three main reasons for the soaring prices. These were Russia’s war in Ukraine, the drought last summer and the brutal inflation. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict caused panic in global markets. The reason is that both countries are major exporters of cereals, maize, sunflower and fertilisers, and the world’s biggest producers, napi.hu reminds us.
Then, Europe was hit by an unprecedented drought and heatwave in the summer of 2022. It damaged arable crops and had a significant impact on livestock farmers, particularly dairy production. Last but not least, inflation has led to an unprecedented rise in farmers’ out-of-pocket costs. To a lesser extent, the rise in costs was also driven by two other factors. These are higher labour costs and the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read alsoFood price rises in Hungary: the long-awaited turnaround is on the horizon
Government making Hungary a battery production empire by reducing environment protection?
Opposition LMP is calling for legal regulations to stipulate regular checks of water samples in battery plants and wants a committee hearing of the energy minister concerning reports about a battery plant in Göd.
LMP lawmaker László Lóránt Keresztes, head of parliament’s sustainable development committee, told a press conference on Wednesday that according to information acquired by investigative website Átlátszó through a court procedure, no water samples had been taken from a well at the Göd plant since 2016 and it was covered over in 2018. Hazardous substances used by the plant had been found in local water resources according to tests ordered by the Göd-ÉRT organisation at the time, he added.
The government wants to make Hungary a “battery production empire” without introducing even the minimum level of measures that could be expected in the interest of the population, he insisted. LMP will again submit a proposal to parliament to introduce legal regulations that oblige battery plants to regularly check water samples, he added.
Read alsoChinese NIO to build its first European plant near Budapest
Wizz Air leads the industry: the most sustainable airline
Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest growing and most environmentally sustainable airline globally*, reports that its average carbon emissions for 2022 amounted to 55.2 grams per passenger/km, 15.4 percent lower than in 2021. This represents its lowest ever annual carbon intensity result recorded in one calendar year.
Lowest carbon emissions
Wizz Air operates the lowest carbon emissions per passenger/km amongst all competitor airlines and is committed to further reducing its carbon emissions intensity by 25 percent by 2030. An integral element of Wizz Air’s sustainability strategy is the renewal of its fleet. The airline has been continuously adding new Airbus A321neo aircraft to its fleet and replacing older aircraft, with 34 Airbus A321neo added to the fleet in 2022.
The share of new “neo” technology aircraft within Wizz Air’s fleet is planned to surpass 50 percent by the end of this financial year. Currently, the airline operates a fleet of 177 Airbus aircraft with an average age of 4.6 years, well below the average age of its major competitors, which is around 10 years.
New aircraft
The new Airbus A321neo incorporates the latest technologies in aviation and offers significant environmental benefits, with a nearly 50 percent reduction in noise footprint, a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and 50 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions compared to the previous model. Wizz Air is currently the biggest operator of the Airbus A321neo in Europe and has one of the largest standalone order books globally of over 300 aircraft of this type, which will help the airline reach its sustainability targets.
Sustainable partnerships
In addition to its ambitious fleet renewal programme, Wizz Air is constantly working on fuel efficiency initiatives and improving the related data analytics. The airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus to explore the potential for hydrogen-powered aircraft, as well as with OMV to supply sustainable aviation fuel between 2023 and 2030. These partnerships reinforce Wizz Air’s commitment to driving emissions intensity down by the end of the decade.
Johan Eidhagen, Chief People and ESG Officer at Wizz Air, said: “We are proud to offer Wizz Air passengers the most environmentally responsible choice when they choose to fly. We have achieved our industry leading sustainability position by operating the most efficient and modern aircraft and focusing on finding solutions to further reduce our carbon emissions intensity. We are thankful for the hard work from all those within the company who have made it possible to achieve our lowest ever carbon intensity annual result.”
*According to the CAPA – Centre for Aviation Awards for Excellence 2022
