Budget-friendly: Wizz Air’s flight costs to India revealed
The CEO of Wizz Air, József Váradi, believes that the lower prices offered by budget airlines could boost demand among both tourists and members of the diaspora. Next year, not only Wizz Air but also the Indian budget airline IndiGo might launch direct flights between India and Europe.
Wizz Air to fly to India soon
As Daily News Hungary reported last week, Wizz has received permission from Hungarian, Italian, and Austrian authorities to launch direct flights to India. Last November, Wizz received the green light from Italian authorities to begin flights to India, and in April this year, an unnamed airline applied to the Hungarian Ministry of Construction and Transport for permission to operate a Budapest–Mumbai route. Only the Asian country is left to approve of the plan.
According to Világgazdaság, these flights are expected to be operated by the Airbus A321XLR aircraft, which are set to arrive in the first quarter of 2025, with the airline scheduled to receive its first of these aircraft next February. The airline plans to take delivery of 47 of the planes, which will be capable of flights of up to eight hours, by the end of the decade, it announced in its annual report published in May.
The plans for India, however, are not new. Wizz Air received designation from Italian authorities for Indian routes last November, with initial flights planned from six to seven European airports to several major Indian airports.
No budget airlines operate between India and Europe
This development is significant not only for the Hungarian budget airline but also for air travel between Europe and India, where currently only traditional airlines operate. According to Váradi, the CEO of Wizz Air, the prices of these traditional airlines are considered expensive by Indians living in various parts of Europe, as reported by Travelo.
Váradi suggests that the lower prices offered by budget airlines could stimulate demand among both tourists and diaspora members. He expects Wizz Air’s lower prices to be around EUR 200, with the cheapest offers possibly available for as low as EUR 100.
Next year, both Wizz Air and the Indian budget airline IndiGo could start offering direct flights between India and Europe.
Read also:
- Wizz Air in India: Here is when the airline plans to launch its direct flights
- Hungarian Wizz Air landed in India for the first time
Featured image: depositphotos.com
Wizz Air in India: Here is when the airline plans to launch its direct flights
Hungarian budget airline Wizz Air has received approval from Hungarian, Italian, and Austrian authorities for direct routes to India. Flights are expected to commence in the first quarter of 2025, following approval from Indian authorities, using the new Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
According to AIRportal.hu, Wizz Air is expecting to receive its first Airbus A321XLR in February 2025. This long-range plane, capable of over eight-hour flights, will bolster their fleet with 47 units by the end of the decade, according to their latest business report. The aircraft is currently in the final stages of certification.
Last November, Wizz received the green light from Italian authorities to begin flights to India. Additionally, in April this year, an unnamed airline applied to the Hungarian Ministry of Construction and Transport for permission to operate a Budapest–Mumbai route.
At the CAPA India Aviation Summit in Delhi, Wizz Air CEO József Váradi announced that the airline had obtained necessary approvals from Italy, Hungary, and Austria for the Indian routes. They are now negotiating with Indian officials to finalise the bilateral aviation agreements.
Wizz Air’s plans in India
Initially, Wizz plans to connect six to seven European cities with major Indian airports. Currently, almost all direct flights between India and Europe are operated by traditional airlines, which many in the Indian diaspora find too expensive. Váradi mentioned that more affordable fares could boost demand from both tourists and the diaspora, who are looking for cheaper travel options between India and Europe.
Váradi indicated that Wizz Air’s average one-way ticket prices on these routes would be around EUR 200, with some tickets available for less than EUR 100.
The airline is also in discussions to start flights between Abu Dhabi and India, a route for which it already has Emirati approval, and is waiting for Indian approval. The existing A321neo aircraft are sufficient for this route.
In April 2023, during a summit between EU and Indian leaders, Wizz Air pushed for the liberalisation of flight rights and the establishment of open skies agreements to streamline regulations.
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Long-awaited Wizz Air innovation: you can now pay on board with this popular credit card!
Wizz Air, the Hungarian low-cost airline, has announced a big change. You can now pay with your Revolut card on Wizz flights.
Fintech expert Ádám Kovács shared on Revb.hu that a member of the Revolut community group was travelling on a Wizz Air flight to Dortmund on 6 June, and during boarding, the crew specifically highlighted that they accept Revolut cards on board. So far, this has not been the case.
Until now, prepaid cards, such as Revolut and other fintech companies, have not been accepted for on-board payments.
Wizz Air now accepts Revolut cards on board
Kovács checked with Wizz, who confirmed that they would indeed allow Revolut cards for in-flight payments for a trial period. They added that they would monitor the results and adjust their business strategy accordingly, Forbes reports.
It is not known exactly how long the trial period will last, nor what will determine whether this option will be retained in the future. However, it is certain that all Wizz flights will be affected.
Are you happy with this change? Let us know in the comments!
Read also:
- Wizz Air launches new flight to German city, may receive giant fine from Spain
- PHOTOS: Mesmerising Wizz Air plane connects Budapest with Paris, CEO may get historic £100M bonus
Featured image: depositphotos.com
Wizz Air launches new flight to German city, may receive giant fine from Spain
Wizz Air, Hungary’s budget airline, launched its brand new flight to Stuttgart, commuting five times a week. Meanwhile, they may get an incredible fine in Spain for their luggage policies.
New Wizz Air flight to German city
According to Budflyer, a Hungarian aviation news Facebook page, the first Wizz Air flight took off from Budapest Airport to Stuttgart, Germany. The flight will carry passengers five times a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Such flights are crucial because tens of thousands of Hungarians work in Germany, and they regularly come back to visit family or do official business.
According to the German Statistical Office (Destatis), more than 210 thousand Hungarian nationals lived in Germany in December 2023. That is a 3,230 decrease compared to 2022, but still very high.
Spain may fine Wizz Air for millions of euro
Spain’s social affairs ministry fined four budget airlines. One of the reasons for the brutal 150-million-euro fine is that the airlines should enable passengers to bring trolley bags on board for free. Based on Okosutas, such a measure would make boarding longer and plane circulation more difficult. Furthermore, it would increase the aircraft’s weight due to the many bags, which will impact its emission.
Okosutas argues that budget airlines introduced the payable trolley bag scheme in the 2010s to decrease ticket costs. That is because those who do not carry large bags on their journey can travel cheaply. For example, with Wizz Air, one carry-on bag (max 10 kg and 40 x 30 x 20 cm) is free, which is enough for half the passengers. Other budget airlines have similar regulations concerning luggage.
Four airlines were fined 150 million euros: Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling, and Volotea. Wizz Air and Norwegian are also present in the Spanish market, but they did not receive a fine in this round. Okosutas wrote that all low-cost air travel sector functions follow the free carry-on and payable trolley bag rule. If that changes, plane ticket prices will increase. The airlines concerned did not accept the Spanish decision, they appealed to local courts.
Internationally renowned street artist’s work decorates the passenger pier at Budapest Airport
According to Budapest Airport, “passenger pier at Terminal 2 is adorned with the artwork of internationally renowned street artist Gergely Void, created in collaboration with children living in state care. With the purchase of the painting, Budapest Airport Plc. supported the Foundation for Children in State Care (Világszép Alapítvány), which helps young people living in children’s homes in Hungary, and Unicef Hungary”.
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PHOTOS: Mesmerising Wizz Air plane connects Budapest with Paris, CEO may get historic £100M bonus
A unique Wizz Air plane will carry the Hungarian athletes to Paris. The new aircraft was inaugurated at a joint press conference of the low-cost company and the Hungarian Olympic Committee.
According to Utazómajom, a Hungarian travel news media outlet, flights between Budapest Airport and Paris-Orly from 30 May will carry the Hungarian athletes to the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in France. The Hungarian budget airline signed the relevant cooperation agreement with the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB) in February. Wizz Air became the official partner of MOB and is committed to carrying the athletes to Paris in time and offering the highest possible comfort for them during their journey.
Interestingly, the Hungarian athletes competing in the summer Olympic games will travel on scheduled flights. Therefore, you can meet them even during your flight to the French capital or back. The aircraft’s name is “Team Hungary” and has a unique, golden colouring.
The team’s current number is 161, which will grow in the next few weeks and may reach even 190 with new members and backups, MOB chairman Zsolt Gyulay said. He added they were proud to exceed the team’s number travelling to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics (organised in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Mr Gyulay said other nations had an Olympic aircraft before. Now, Hungarian athletes can feel how important they are and how many people support them in their struggle to become the world’s best. The chairman thanked Wizz Air for their commitment.
Hungarians proud of Olympic team, Olympic Committee proud of Wizz Air
Dr. Ádám Schmidt, the secretary responsible for sport, said it is a historic development that the Hungarian team can travel to the Olympics’ venue with their uniquely designed, exclusive aircraft.
Wizz Air’s team and a team of engineers worked for two months on the design of the jet. The aircraft’s outlook was generated with software designed only for that purpose, while implementation took one week.
The Airbus plane arrived from Hamburg this spring and was built using the latest technology. Roland Tischner, the operation leader of the company, said they were committed to making the journey comfortable for each athlete and passenger.
Here are some more photos of the new plane:
Wizz Air CEO: everybody will profit from his GBP 100 million bonus
Wizz CEO József Váradi gave an interview to City A.M. and talked about the “incredible” bonus he gets provided Wizz Air’s share price hits GBP 120 before 2028. That would mean the creation of around GBP 10 billion in shareholder amount. Now, the share price stands at GBP 21, so there is much work to do, but the scheme provoked criticism last year. We detailed the issue in THIS article.
But Váradi said he would get only 1% of that shareholder amount as a bonus. A bank would get more, he insisted in the interview. Furthermore, he highlighted that they “have a holistic approach that remunerates not only the chief executive but leadership, management of the company, as well as all the employees. So that all kind of cascades down every employee of the company… everyone benefits from a scheme like this.”
The payout will be the biggest in the London Stock Exchange’s history.
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Wizz Air flies Hungarian Olympians to Paris 2024 with a new paint, you can meet your favourites – Photos, video
At a joint press conference with the Hungarian Olympic Committee (MOB), Wizz Air unveiled a uniquely painted aircraft that will transport Hungarian athletes to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The aircraft, which will bear the Team Hungary livery, will commence flights on routes including Budapest and Paris-Orly today.
Wizz Air, the official partner of the MOB
Under the partnership, members of the Hungarian team will be transported to the Olympic Games by Wizz Air, an official partner of the MOB. This ensures that they arrive at the venue of the five-ring Games punctually and comfortably. The Olympians will travel on scheduled flights, allowing passengers to meet Hungarian team members on various Budapest-Paris flights.
“As of today, the Hungarian Olympic Team consists of 161 members, and this number will increase over the next few weeks. We estimate that the total number of athletes, including reserves, will be between 180 and 190. We are proud to expect surpassing the Tokyo figure and that all team members will be travelling to the Olympics on this special aircraft. We hope that more of you will return in the golden aircraft on 12 August, giving us a reason to celebrate. We used to envy other nations’ Olympic planes, and I am delighted that Hungarian athletes can now feel the importance of their support on their journey. I thank Wizz Air for making this possible,”
– said Zsolt Gyulay, President of the Hungarian Olympic Committee.
With fifty-seven days to go until the start of the Olympics, you can travel between the Hungarian capital and the Games venue on this uniquely designed aircraft:
The special livery of the Team Hungary aircraft was created by a team of 13 professionals, primarily engineers, who collaborated with the Wizz Air team for two months. The graphics, comprising 50 small pieces on each side of the aircraft, were created using specially developed software, and the decoration itself took a week to apply.
“We are very proud of this aircraft and to be an official partner of the MOB. We are excited to show our support to Hungarian athletes and, not least, to Hungarian passengers,” said Roland Tischner, Wizz Air‘s Chief Operating Officer. ”
New Wizz Air aircraft
In June 2024, Wizz Air will introduce two new modern Airbus A321neo aircraft into service at its Budapest base, connecting Budapest with six new destinations in Europe and beyond. Travellers will soon be able to fly directly to Brașov, Brussels, Bucharest, Yerevan, Stuttgart and Valencia.
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Wizz Air Middle East flight returns to Budapest, leaving passengers stranded in Dubai
A Wizz Air flight from Budapest to Dubai has turned back over to Türkiye. As the same flight was due to return from Budapest in the evening, the airline’s flight W62498 was also cancelled. According to our reader, around 250 people could be affected by the cancellation.
Index reported, citing a passenger, that Wizz Air flight W62497 from Budapest to Dubai was turned back on Monday afternoon.
The Wizz Air plane did turn back over to Türkiye, as can be seen on radarbox.com, and at 5:24 PM, it landed in Budapest.
According to our reader, at 21:20 in the evening, the same plane was due to return from Dubai to Budapest, leaving 250 people stranded in the UAE. According to flightradar24.com, flight W62498 has already been canceled.
When contacted by the press, Wizz Air said that a flight from Budapest to Dubai on 27 May had returned to its departure airport due to a technical problem. Wizz Air technicians immediately started investigating the problem and making the necessary repairs.
“The airline has provided accommodation to affected passengers who requested it and has offered them free rebooking, a 100 percent cash refund, or 120 percent of the original fare in WIZZ credit. Wizz Air informed the affected passengers by e-mail and SMS at the time of booking, so those who did not purchase their tickets directly on the Wizz Air website, but for example, through an online travel agency, a group travel company, or a price comparison site, may have received the relevant information late or not at all. They can make inquiries on the Wizz Air website, in the app, or by calling the customer service phone number.”
The airline has also apologised for any inconvenience caused and stressed that the safety of its passengers and staff remains Wizz Air’s top priority
Index also reported that one passenger at the scene confirmed they had received assistance from the airline. The passengers were bussed to a 5-star hotel where they were served dinner and were reportedly due to return to the airport at 6 pm tomorrow.
As we wrote two days ago, two Wizz planes made emergency landings in Budapest, causing the airline to miss at least 50 aircraft in 2024, details are HERE.
Hungarian Wizz Air landed in India for the first time
A Wizz Air plane landed at the international airport of Trivandrum, India. This was the first time the Hungarian budget airline’s plane touched the ground of the subcontinent.
Wizz Air does not go to America
We wrote earlier that Wizz Air plans to acquire 47 A321XLR planes by 2030. These are long-range aircraft. But based on the company’s CEO, József Váradi, they do not plan to launch Transatlantic flights with the help of those planes.
That might be because of the bad US-Hungary relationship, thanks to the Hungarian government’s stance on the war in Ukraine. The Orbán cabinet would not like to provide Ukraine weapons and focuses on the importance of ceasefire and peace talks in their 2024 election campaigns.
Orbán regularly says that without their victory (and the victory of the “pro-peace forces”) in the elections, NATO and the EU would join the war against Russia in Ukraine and suggests that Hungarians would be sacrificed for Ukraine in the Eastern front. The Biden administration and many European leaders are mad to hear or read those statements.
First plane landed in India
That is probably why Wizz Air plans to expand in the East. CEO Váradi said they aimed to open new routes to Central Asia and India, and their first flight landed in the subcontinent, even though it was not intentional.
According to Budflyer, a Hungarian travel news Facebook page, because of the intense weather, Wizz Air flight 5W7105 was diverted to Trivandrum, India. Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines flight MU235 was diverted to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Maldivian flights Q2245 and Q2165 were diverted to Kadhdhoo Airport, while Q2707 from Cochin was diverted to Gan.
This means that a Wizz Air flight already touched Indian ground. Here is a photo of the Wizz aircraft:
And a video of the diversion:
Read also:
2 Wizz-planes made emergency landings in Budapest, airline to miss at least 50 aircraft in 2024
Two Wizz Air-planes made emergency landings in Budapest. One of them did so because of a technical issue, while the other landed because one of the passengers felt unbearable pain. Meanwhile, the Hungarian low-cost airline admitted that they will miss at least 50 aircraft due to problems with the Pratt & Whitney engines.
Two emergency landings in Budapest concerning Wizz Air
According to Telex, the Budapest-Barcelona flight had to return to Budapest yesterday at 8 PM, right after its departure. That came after the weather radar malfunctioned, so the pilot followed the protocol by returning immediately to Budapest. Thankfully, the maintenance team could mend the technical issue quickly. As a result, the passengers could restart their journey to Barcelona.
Later, another Wizz flight had to stop in Budapest since one of their passengers struggled with unbearable pain. A doctor and the crew on board concluded that she needed immediate medical attention in a hospital. As a result, the pilot landed in Budapest and the patient, where an ambulance car waited for her. Afterwards, the plane continued its flight to the Georgian Kutaisi.
Wizz Air apologised for the inconvenience but stated that safety and passenger protection are of paramount importance.
50 Wizz-planes will be grounded in 2024
According to AIRportal.hu, Wizz Air could increase its revenues by 1/3rd (EUR 5.073 billion) and became a profitable (EUR 366 million) company from a loss-making one last year. Meanwhile, they expressed their intention to increase the rate of punctual flights to 80% this year.
Wizz Air carried 62 million passengers between March 2023 and March 2024, with a load factor of 90.1%, which is a 2.3% increase. However, only 65.3% of their flights were punctual. Therefore, they would like to increase that rate to 80% in 2024.
At the end of March, 45 planes were on the ground due to problems with the Pratt & Whitney engines. They received financial compensation from the manufacturer. Until end-2024, the number of grounded planes will rise to 50 because the average engine reparation time is 300 days. However, they will fill the gaps with 27 new aircraft, prolonged leasings and wet leases.
Dozens of long-range planes
The Hungarian low-cost airline calculates with EUR 5-600 million in this financial year.
With a considerable increase, by 2030, they would like to operate 449 aircraft in their fleet (in 2025, the expected number is 227). 47 of them will be long-range A321XLR planes. However, CEO József Váradi has not mentioned yet any intentions concerning Transatlantic flights. He talked about new destinations in India and Central Asia: HERE is our detailed article on the issue.
Read also:
- Regular direct flights between Tashkent and Budapest launched soon – Read more HERE
- Scandal at Budapest Airport: Dozens of passengers denied boarding by Wizz Air
Bright prospects for Wizz Air, though many aircraft will have to be grounded
The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air increased its revenues by almost a third and turned a loss into a profit in its recently closed financial year, as it seeks to improve its percentage of punctual flights to 80%. In the first half of the financial year and until the end of the year, Wizz Air expects to be without around 50 of its aircraft, with an average engine repair time of 300 days.
Wizz Air closed its financial year with great results
Wizz Air closed its financial year to the end of March 2024 with revenues of EUR 5.073 billion, an increase of 30.2% compared to the previous year, according to its results announcement. The airline’s fuel costs were 5% lower than the previous year.
The result was positively impacted by strong travel demand and fare increases, while financials were negatively impacted by Pratt & Whitney GTF engine and supply chain issues, inflation and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to AIRportal.hu.
The airline offered 69 million seats on its flights between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, an increase of 18% compared to the previous year. A total of 62 million people flew on the flights, an increase of 21%. The average load factor was 90.1%, an improvement of 2.3 percentage points compared to the previous year.
Wizz Air completed 99.4% of its scheduled flights and 65.3% of flights were on time (i.e. within 15 minutes of the scheduled departure time, according to industry standards), a 10 percentage point improvement compared to the previous period. Wizz has a total of 193 airports in 53 countries and operates 33 bases, with its workforce increasing by 600 employees to 8,000 in the financial year.
During the period, it took delivery of 29 new aircraft, bringing its fleet to 208 on 31 March 2024.
During the first half of the financial year and until the end of the year, Wizz Air expects to be without around 50 of its aircraft, with an average engine repair time of 300 days.
The airline expects its capacity per seat and per kilometre to remain at the previous year’s level, while the average seat load factor on flights could increase by 2 percentage points to 92%.
Management expects the company’s net profit to be in the range of EUR 500-600 million for the financial year ending 31 March 2025, with revenue growth of slightly below 10%.
According to the airline’s long-term fleet plan, the first long-range A321XLRs will enter the fleet this financial year, but the company expects a potential delay of 30-35 aircraft next year.
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Scandal at Budapest Airport: Dozens of passengers denied boarding by Wizz Air
This past weekend, Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport was the scene of significant disruption when Wizz Air denied boarding to dozens of passengers heading to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Approximately 80 to 100 travellers, including Hungarian citizens and international transit passengers, were left stranded due to issues with their visas.
Dozens of passengers denied boarding
According to Euronews, the crux of the problem revolved around the Hajj pilgrimage, an event requiring a special visa during its active period. Even though Wizz Air was reportedly informed about the new visa requirements a week in advance, they failed to notify passengers. The airline received an internal memo indicating that from 18 May to 6 June, only Hajj visas would be accepted for entry into Saudi Arabia, regardless of whether passengers were participating in the pilgrimage.
Passengers were caught off guard at the airport. Many had valid tourist visas or multiple-entry visas but were told they needed a specific Hajj visa to board the flight. Despite repeated attempts to contact Wizz Air’s customer service, passengers received no assistance, leading to frustration and confusion.
One affected passenger, a lawyer, described how they learned about the visa issue only at check-in. Despite not intending to participate in the pilgrimage, they were required to have a Hajj visa. The Hungarian Consular Service’s website lacked information about these specific restrictions. Additionally, the airline’s communication to passengers about the delay and necessary precautions did not include any mention of the visa requirement changes.
Wizz Air knew about the need for Hajj visas beforehand
In response to the complaints, Wizz Air stated that they had received instructions from Saudi authorities to accept only Hajj visas during this period. The airline later clarified that they had been in continuous communication with Saudi officials, who eventually provided conflicting information that all visa types would be accepted until further notice. Despite this, the airline enforced the initial instructions strictly, leaving many passengers without options.
The situation was especially dire for transit passengers who had no prior knowledge of the visa requirements. They found themselves stranded in Budapest without alternative travel arrangements. One passenger recounted how, despite having a valid one-year multiple-entry visa and previous travel experience to Saudi Arabia, they were denied boarding because they lacked the Hajj visa.
The confusion was exacerbated by the fact that other airlines reportedly accepted tourist visas without issue. According to Blikk, passengers demanded to see the instructions that Wizz Air claimed to have received but were only given a verbal readout, with no official documentation provided.
The airline has issued an apology
Wizz Air has since issued an apology for the inconvenience caused, offering affected passengers options such as rebooking on alternative flights or receiving a refund. However, many travellers incurred significant additional costs, such as non-refundable hotel bookings, which the airline’s compensation would not cover.
The incident highlights significant gaps in communication and coordination between airlines and regulatory authorities. Passengers are now seeking compensation from Wizz Air, citing the airline’s failure to provide timely and clear information about the visa requirements.
Read also:
- Trouble with a Wizz Air flight? Call this ‘secret’ phone number for pennies!
- Exciting: Hungarian Wizz Air will conquer far-away, exotic countries from 2025
Featured image: depositphotos.com
Exciting: Hungarian Wizz Air will conquer far-away, exotic countries from 2025
József Váradi has been at the helm of the Hungarian low-cost airline since its start in 2004. Now he talked about some ambitious future plans to an Italian magazine. He mentioned the new routes becoming available with the company’s newly-acquired planes and how the problems with Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines will impact expansion plans.
Far-away and exotic countries can become available with Wizz Air thanks to new planes
According to italiavola.com, Mr Váradi met the press in Milan to talk about his future plans with the successful Hungarian budget airline, Wizz Air. He told TTG Italia that they already carried more than 400 million passengers and shared some additional numbers they can be proud of. He added they flew 207 planes from 193 airports, offering 800 routes for their passengers on three continents.
We wrote several times that the problems with Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines may result in delays and cancellations in the airline’s summer schedule. Mr Váradi said that the engine problem would be resolved by end-2025. Furthermore, despite 20% of their fleet being grounded, they are flying much more than in 2019.
He added they would receive the first Airbus A321XLR type plane next February. The range of that plane is much higher than any other Wizz Air used before. It will enter into service in March 2025. That fleet will be extended to 47 by 2028 and doubled between 2028 and 2033. Such intercontinental planes will allow Wizz Air to conquer India, Central Asia and Africa, where Wizz plans to fly those routes in the future.
Astonishing Wizz Air numbers for this year
Váradi said they would make 69.5 million seats available in 2024 despite the problems with grounded planes. This is possible because they extended the leasing period of multiple aircraft for the season.
The Wizz CEO added that the ticket price growth was only single-digit this year. He said they would have good numbers concerning the business year with a profit between EUR 350 and 370 million, which is due to the many planes grounded.
Read also:
- Trouble with a Wizz Air flight? Call THIS ‘secret’ phone number for pennies!
- Plane tickets from Budapest starting from EUR 13 to amazing European cities!
Plane tickets from Budapest starting from EUR 13 to amazing European cities!
Fancy a cheap pre-season getaway? You’ve come to the right place. Several beautiful European cities are now available from Budapest for bargain prices by two major low-cost airlines.
Tickets to European cities for pennies
According to Travelo, Irish low-cost airline Ryanair and Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air operate direct flights from Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport to historic European cities and holiday resorts for great prices.
As you can explore these cities in 2-4 days, you don’t even need to spend on checked luggage – hand luggage can be enough. This leaves more money to spend on food and drink, museums and activities.
Choose from the offers of the two low-cost airlines below and hit the road!
- Ryanair offers tickets for EUR 13 in May to popular destinations such as London, Dubrovnik, Edinburgh, Krakow, Milan, Rome, Venice, Zadar, Split and Gothenburg.
- Wizz Air‘s low-cost flights from Budapest also operate at very reasonable prices of around HUF 12,000 (EUR 31) to and from Brussels, Milan, Târgu Mures, Berlin, Tirana, Rome or Naples.
Read also:
- Superb: New flight from Budapest announced to a Western European metropolis
- Major airline to return to Budapest Airport this autumn
Featured image: depositphotos.com
Trouble with a Wizz Air flight? Call this ‘secret’ phone number for pennies!
Here is the Hungarian low-cost airline’s ‘secret’, not premium rate phone number, if you get in trouble, for example, your flight was cancelled, delayed, or your boarding was rejected.
Does the Wizz Air chatbot not help enough?
Of course, the not premium rate Wizz-number is not ‘secret’, but it is hard to find on the Hungarian low-cost airline’s website.
According to Utazómajom, one of the most frustrating features of budget airlines is that they save money on their customer service. Instead, they try to communicate with their customers using chatbots that do not provide sufficient help, the Hungarian travel news website highlighted.
Wizz Air’s competitor, the Ireland-based Ryanair, operates a well-functioning chat for customers where you receive answers from employees. That is even more practical than the phone-based customer service option. Meanwhile, as a Wizz Air passenger, you can chat with “Amelia“, a bot available on a premium rate line.
Special and cheap Wizz Air phone number
If you call the number +36-90-900-555, you pay HUF 250 (EUR 0.64) for each minute. Furthermore, you must pay an additional HUF 6,200 (EUR 16) transaction fee, provided you were able to solve the case online.
But there is a phone number for passengers requiring special help, which is not easy to find on the company’s website. You can call this number if you are disabled or a passenger with special needs. Furthermore, you can dial it provided your flight was cancelled or delayed, or your boarding pass was rejected.
Here it is: +36-167-775-05
But check it out before dialing
However, that number constantly changes, so before typing it into your phone, you should check whether it is valid by clicking HERE. Do not forget to type in your home country to reach your local Special Assistance Call Centre.
Special Assistance Call Centres are open 24 hours with English-speaking assistants.
Read also:
- You can now buy tickets for exhibitions and sightseeing tours on Wizz Air platforms – Read more HERE
- Unforeseen: EU starts investigation against Hungarian Wizz Air!
Unforeseen: EU starts investigation against Hungarian Wizz Air!
According to the allegations, the Hungarian low-cost airline, Wizz Air, potentially mislead its customers concerning its environmental claims. Therefore, the European Commission and EU consumer protection authorities began an investigation against the airline and 19 other ones.
Is Wizz Air in trouble?
“The action follows concerns raised by European consumer organisation BEUC and is led by watchdogs in Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain, but the 20 airlines were not identified in a statement published earlier this week”, Business Travel News Europe wrote.
According to airportal.hu, the 20 airlines included are Air Baltic, Air Dolomiti, Air France, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Ryanair, SAS, Swiss, TAP, Volotea, Vueling and Wizz Air.
What happened?
“Following an alert from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), the European Commission and EU consumer authorities (Network of Consumer Protection Cooperation – CPC – Authorities) sent letters to 20 airlines identifying several types of potentially misleading green claims and inviting them to bring their practices in line with EU consumer law within 30 days”, the European Commission’s official website wrote in the issue in a statement for the press.
The investigation “focused on claims made by airlines that the CO2 emissions caused by a flight could be offset by climate projects or through the use of sustainable fuels, to which the consumers could contribute by paying additional fees.
The authorities are concerned that the identified practices can be considered as misleading actions/omissions, prohibited under Articles 5, 6 and 7 of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive. On their part, the airlines are yet to clarify whether such claims can be substantiated based on sound scientific evidence.”
You may read about the key elements of the action in the full statement of the EC HERE.
Wizz Air has 30 days to clear its name
Wizz Air and the other 19 airlines have 30 days to provide a response and propose measures to address the concerns. Afterwards, the European Commission will organise a meeting with the Consumer Protection Cooperation and the airlines to discuss the solutions.
Provided some airlines do not take the necessary steps, the European Commission may impose sanctions.
Read also:
- You can now buy tickets for exhibitions and sightseeing tours on Wizz Air platforms – Read more HERE
- Popular Wizz Air flight’s travel time significantly increased
You can now buy tickets for exhibitions and sightseeing tours on Wizz Air platforms!
Wizz Air is launching a new feature on its website and mobile app: passengers can now book tickets directly on these platforms for events, exhibitions, sightseeing tours and other experiences.
Wizz Air innovation
The WIZZ Experiences service is launched in cooperation with the Hungarian low-cost airline’s partner, online service provider Coras. The new service will offer more than 10 million tickets to passengers in 300 cities in over 65 countries.
- In Greece, you can buy tickets to diving, olive oil tasting, traditional Greek live music and dinner shows.
- In the UK you can buy tickets to the most prestigious sporting matches, concerts and West End shows.
- In Spain, you can pay for a tour of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona or the Prado Museum in Madrid. You can also buy tickets to FC Barcelona matches, cycle around Madrid and see its best sights, and visit three of Malaga’s best tapas restaurants with a local guide.
- In France, you can book a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre museum, or a guided tour of the Palace of Versailles.
- In Italy, there are small group tours to Pompeii with an archaeologist, or off-peak tickets to the Colosseum or the Uffizi Gallery, a guided tour of the Vatican or an AC Milan football match, the airline said.
“Thanks to a wide range of complementary products and partner services, our passengers can now build their entire journey with Wizz Air, from flights to in-flight shopping, transfers, accommodation and on-site activities,” said James Goodwin, Wizz Air’s Head of Complementary Services.
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Popular Wizz Air flight’s travel time significantly increased
Wizz Air carried passengers from the United Arab Emirates to Budapest with an hours-long detour – here is why.
According to Utazómajom, a Hungarian travel news media outlet, Wizz Air’s flight from Abu Dhabi, Dubai stops in Larnaca (Cyprus) to change crew and refill the jet fuel tanks. We could think about the war in the Middle East as a reason.
However, flights from Budapest to those destinations do not land in Cyprus but continue their journey in Iraqi airspace.
Passengers complain about the lack of information
Interestingly, the Hungarian low-cost airline does not inform its passengers about the longer travel time on its website. The detour costs +3-4 hours, which is significant considering the 2-hour-long travel time.
According to the passengers, Wizz provides no information about the detour and the long travel time, reaching almost eight hours in some cases. Meanwhile, the Hungarian low-cost airline states they inform their passengers about the modification, so it is difficult to know what is true.
Here is the official answer from Wizz Air
Based on the sources of Utazómajom, the passengers of Wizz Air’s Monday flight were told that the stop in Larnaca was a must due to the strong headwind. Without a refill on the island of Aphrodite, they would not have had enough jet fuel to reach Budapest.
Utazómajom asked about Wizz Air’s standpoint on the issue. The Hungarian budget airline said the route modification was due to the violent conflict in the Middle East. However, the measure is not permanent and does not affect all the flights.
Since the work time of their crew is strictly regulated, in some cases, their pilots must land in Cyprus to change the cabin crew. The airline added they regularly inform their passengers about the longer travel time and the extra stop. Passenger, crew and aircraft safety is of paramount importance for Wizz.
Here is a cockpit video of a Wizz Air Airbus A321Neo landing in Sarajevo:
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Hungarian passengers stranded in Barcelona due to extreme weather
Hungarian passengers who wanted to return to Hungary on Monday night were stranded in Barcelona. One passenger said Wizz Air had acted unfairly, while the airline said it had done everything it could.
Hungarian passengers stuck in Barcelona
Wizz Air passengers received a text message about the delay of the Monday night flight from Barcelona to Budapest during the day. The flight was eventually cancelled shortly after midnight, but according to an Index reader who wanted to travel home, the airline communicated this as if it was still just a delay, and the new schedule would see the flight departing on Tuesday afternoon. Airport staff were unable to accommodate passengers in hotel rooms even at 1:30 AM, so the Hungarian passengers waited together for the arrangements to be made.
“The airport employee was arrogant and seemed to be out of control, as after three hours of waiting they could not even accommodate one passenger. Wizz Air was not represented locally. People asked whether or not they would get their checked baggage back, but again they received conflicting answers. Eventually, it emerged that the airport had already placed the checked baggage at the baggage claim points, which by then had been going around the deserted airport unattended for hours. Some were with children, many would have been at work the next day, including me,” wrote the Index reader.
The reader added: “Since Wizz Air had all passengers sign a declaration at check-in, we could have guessed that they were not being fair, because instead of telling them that the flight had not even taken off from Budapest, they kept on telling passengers all day and night that there would only be a delay.”
The writer of the letter has no knowledge of the fate of the Hungarians stuck at the airport, as they went to a hotel with their partner at their own expense. “How we will get home is not yet known,” the passenger said, who was still in Spain on Tuesday morning.
Wizz Air’s response
Index wrote to Wizz Air, which sent the following reply:
“On 22 April, due to the exceptional weather situation, the Wizz Air Barcelona-Budapest flight was unable to take off safely on time. The airline informed passengers of the expected delay using the contact details provided when booking the flight, and when it became clear that the aircraft would not be able to take off that day, Wizz Air’s ground handling partner immediately started to organise accommodation for passengers,” the airline told the news portal. Wizz added that the latter took longer than usual due to a local Catalan holiday, which meant that some passengers were only able to check in at night.
In their reply, they also stressed that, in addition to accommodation, the passengers concerned were also offered the possibility of free rebooking, a 100% refund of the purchase price of their ticket or a 120% credit of the original fare in Wizz credit. “And while the incident was not the fault of the airline, Wizz Air apologises to all concerned for the inconvenience and will continue to ensure the safety of its passengers, crew and aircraft,” the Hungarian airline said.
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Featured image: depositphotos.com