Saddest day of the year: Wizz Air is preparing for today with huge promotions
Wizz Air has responded to the saddest day of the year, Blue Monday, by offering big promotions to make the day even better for us.
Years ago, a university professor worked out a formula with scientific rigour that uses the law of large numbers to tell us which day of the year people are saddest. According to the methodology, the third Monday of every January is the best day to go, when people experience the darker weather, the start of the year and the week, and the post-holiday doldrums all at once.
It seems that Wizz Air is helping to brighten up the day: with discounted flights, sunshine and adventure in many far-flung places.
Wizz Air discounted flights
Cairo, the cultural hub of the Arab world and the Middle East, offers a wealth of fascinating sights and is an ideal destination for those who want to admire ancient history and breathtaking scenery. For those who have not yet seen the Sphinx, the Egyptian capital is a guaranteed bucket list destination.
The south of Italy is a great place to explore, a great place to bustle. Bari, the second largest city in the region, offers local specialities such as tiella barese or spaghetti all’assassina, known as the recipe for fiery assassin, stunning ancient cities and sandy beaches for those who want an authentic Italian feel and relaxation.
Pablo Picasso’s hometown, Malaga, is an unmissable Spanish destination on the Mediterranean coast, luring travellers with its sun-drenched beaches and gastronomic delights. The centre of the sunny Costa del Sol is a popular destination known for its mild weather and lively nightlife.
We wrote on Sunday, Ryanair announces new flight from Budapest to one of Europe’s busiest air gates, read details HERE.
As we wrote before, Ryanair beats Hungarian Wizz Air in Budapest, details are HERE.
| Flight route | Tickets​ | |
| Budapest – Bari | everyday | from HUF 9 790 |
| Budapest – Cairo (Sphinx) | 3 times a week | from HUF 19 490 |
| Budapest – Malaga | 5 times a week | from HUF 8 990 |
Ryanair announces new flight from Budapest to one of Europe’s busiest air gates
The Irish low-cost airline announced a new flight from Budapest Airport to Germany. That means they will surely beat Wizz Air in Budapest in the summer season, since they will have more flights than the Hungarian budget airline.
According to Airportal, a Hungarian air travel-focused news outlet, the Irish airline will fly between Budapest and Frankfurt-Hahn, an airport 120 km away from Europe’s 6th busiest airport, twice a week. That goes for the period between June and September.
Based on the booking system of Ryanair, the first flight will take off from Budapest Airport on 2 June. The planes will carry passengers on Wednesdays and Sundays between Budapest and Hahn.
On Wednesdays, the flights will operate under the FR 9778 register code. They will depart from Frankfurt-Hahn at 1.10 PM and arrive in Budapest at 2.55 PM. The return flights will travel under FR 9779 and take off at 3.20 PM to land in Hahn at 5.05 PM. On Sunday, the flights will commute three hours later.
The route will be served by Malta Air’s Boeing 737 planes based in Hahn. The booking of the flights is available until 29 September.
This is why Ryanair beat Wizz Air in Budapest
According to Budflyer, a Hungarian air travel news-focused Facebook page that always has precise information, this is the fourth new Ryanair flight in the 2024 summer timetable. As we wrote in THIS article, the fierce competition between Ryanair and Wizz Air for passengers across Europe is palpable. But it seems the Irish will win Budapest this summer in terms of the number of flights launched from the Hungarian capital.
If we consider Debrecen International Airport, where only Wizz Air is present, the numbers change, and Hungary’s biggest budget airline remains Wizz Air.
Wizz Air did not announce any new flights from Budapest for the 2024 summer season. The only difference compared to their previous season is that their Edinburgh flight will commute to Glasgow instead of the Scottish capital. Budflyer believes the reason is the engine problems of the newly-acquired Airbus planes. As a result, many Wizz planes must remain on the ground for an accurate checkup, so the airline cannot expand as much as they would like. We summed up that problem in THIS article.
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Hungarian Wizz Air wanted the EU to chastise the Romanian flag carrier
The Hungarian budget airline found fault with Tarom’s state bailout. That is because provided the Romanian airline had bankrupted during the COVID pandemic, there would have been other airlines which could have served Romanian passengers on the routes of the Romanian flag carrier. Of course, Wizz Air wants to conquer the low-cost market of Hungary’s Eastern neighbour. That is why they brought the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CURIA).
Romania gave EUR 37 million as a loan to Tarom, the country’s flag carrier, after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. That is how they saved their airline from bankruptcy. Wizz Air believed that the help was prohibited state support and brought the case to the CURIA. But the EU’s Court of Justice gave right to Romania, Világgazdaság wrote.
In September 2022, we wrote that Wizz Air continued its lawsuit against Tarom. Furthermore, the Hungarian low-cost airline expressed it would take the Romanian competitor’s place if it went bankrupt as it did in the case of Malév. However, they would have only taken over certain flights, the airline’s company director added then.
Ryanair was also outraged in France
During the pandemic, several countries decided to help their flag carriers, which low-cost companies regularly slammed. For example, Ryanair complained about the bailout of Air France and SAS.
In the case of Wizz Air’s complaint about Romania’s EUR 37 million loan to their airline Tarom, the EU’s Court of Justice decided on Thursday and rejected Wizz’s claim. The court said Tarom’s bankruptcy would have affected several Romanian regions badly since the air connection would have terminated in that case.
The CURIA did not accept Wizz Air’s argument that competitor airlines would have filled that gap, Maszol wrote.
Before, Wizz Air turned to the EU’s CURIA because of the EUR 60 million bailout of Romanian Blue Air. However, that airline went bankrupt and is now in state ownership.
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Congratulations! Hungarian Wizz Air among the world’s safest airlines
Based on the latest rating by AirlineRatings, the Hungarian low-cost airline, Wizz Air, is among the world’s 20 safest budget airlines. Congratulations!
According to Utazómajom, a Hungarian travel news blog, Wizz Air was chosen as one of the world’s twenty safest low-cost airlines. They monitored 385 airlines.
The top 20 safest low-cost airlines for 2022 according to AirlineRatings are, in alphabetical order: Air Arabia, AirAsia, AirAsia X, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Philippines and AirAsia India, Air Baltic, Easyjet, FlyDubai, Frontier, Jetstar Group, Jetblue, Indigo, Ryanair, Scoot, Southwest, Spicejet, Spirit, Vueling, Vietjet, Volaris, Westjet, and Wizz Air.
According to airlineratings.com, “factors used to decide the top 20 safest low-cost airlines include: incident records over the past two years, crash records over the past five years, results of audits conducted by the governing body of aviation, The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), EU banned lists and fleet age.”
Wizz Air not only sustainable but also safe
The website started in 2013 and rates “the safety, in-flight product, and COVID-19 compliance of 385 airlines using its unique seven-star rating system. The editorial team is one of the world’s most experienced with over 50 international and national awards. They have also authored or co-authored more than 28 industry books.”
Zsuzsa Trubek, Wizz’s communications manager, said they were happy to learn about the rating and that others acknowledge what they and their crew spend on the safety of their passengers and planes. “With AirlineRatings’ award, Wizz Air strengthens its global leading role not only concerning sustainability but also safety”, she added.
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Wizz Air CEO shares stinging criticism after Boeing scandal
Following the emergency exit incident on an Alaska Airlines Boeing Max 9, Wizz Air CEO József Váradi has called for a significant overhaul in aviation safety measures and operations, sparking a renewed debate within the industry.
Alaska Airlines incident
In a recent aviation scare, an emergency exit on an Alaska Airlines aircraft broke off mid-flight, prompting an emergency landing. The door plug for the fuselage of a Boeing 737 Max 9 fell off during the flight’s ascent on Friday, depressurising the cabin and exposing passengers to open air thousands of feet above ground. Miraculously, all 171 passengers and 6 crew members emerged unscathed. The incident led to the temporary grounding of 171 Boeing MAX 9 planes by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), causing an almost 8 percent drop in Boeing’s stock.
The Wizz Air CEO’s critique
In an interview with Bloomberg, József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air, did not hold back in his criticism of the aviation industry. He asserted that both Boeing and Airbus must intensify their quality control measures, highlighting a systemic issue within the industry. Váradi’s comments extended beyond the specific Boeing incident, emphasising the need for a comprehensive overhaul of safety processes and operations. He called for a systemic change within the aviation industry, Economx writes.
Need for internal quality controls
Váradi emphasised the urgency for more robust internal quality controls within aviation companies. Furthermore, he argued that the responsibility for ensuring passenger safety extends beyond regulators and should be an integral part of manufacturers’ operations. The call for enhanced scrutiny comes as a response to what he perceives as a careless and neglectful attitude in the industry.
Industry-wide reform
Beyond singling out Boeing, Váradi broadened his critique to encompass all aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus. He insisted that the entire aviation sector needs to prioritise safety over convenience and profit. Váradi’s comments hint at possible issues and highlight a growing concern about the “quite cozy” relationship between regulators and manufacturers.
Urgent call for change
The situation can be described as almost as if manufacturers were married to regulators
summarised József Váradi, and said that this clearly needs to change.
Describing the current state as an “marriage” between manufacturers and regulators, Váradi stressed the need for a swift and comprehensive transformation. He called for a reevaluation of the industry’s dynamics, urging regulators to adopt a more critical stance towards manufacturers. Wizz Air, an Airbus-exclusive fleet, remains unaffected by the Boeing ban, reinforcing Váradi’s position on the necessity for industry-wide change.
In light of this incident and Váradi’s scathing critique, the aviation industry faces a significant moment. It demands immediate attention to safety protocols and a restructured relationship between manufacturers and regulators. All in all, the need to resolve these issues urgently shows a dedication to passenger safety and the rebuilding of public confidence in the aviation industry.
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Ryanair beats Hungarian Wizz Air in Budapest
The fierce competition between the two budget airlines for passengers across Europe is palpable, and in Budapest, it seems Ryanair is gaining the upper hand over Wizz Air in terms of the number of flights launched from the Hungarian capital.
As reported by okosutas.hu, the Irish low-cost airline, Ryanair, is steadily rolling out new destinations from Budapest, outpacing its Hungarian counterpart Wizz Air. By the upcoming summer, it appears that Ryanair will surpass Wizz Air in the Hungarian capital.
A similar scenario unfolded last spring when Ryanair recovered faster from the COVID standstill, whereas it took longer for Wizz Air to rebuild its capacities. By the summer of 2023, Wizz Air managed to catch up with Ryanair, boasting more destinations from Budapest than its Irish competitor.
However, this summer marks a reversal of fortunes. Wizz Air has modified only one of its destinations, switching to Glasgow instead of Edinburgh in Scotland, and announced only two flights to Egypt. Unfortunately, they’ve also cancelled flights to Castellon in Spain for this summer. Their current timetable indicates 60 destinations from Budapest.
Meanwhile, Ryanair plans to maintain ‘winter only’ flights from Budapest throughout the summer, including destinations like Lanzarote and Sevilla. Furthermore, they’re set to introduce new routes to Birmingham, Alicante, Milan-Malpensa and the enchanting Greek island of Skiathos, famous as the setting of Mamma Mia. We wrote about the latter HERE. Their latest announcement includes flights to Faro in Portugal starting this June, with lingering doubts about its sustainability through the summer and into the winter.
Although initial concerns arose about potential route cancellations, such as Warsaw-Modlin, later revelations clarified that these routes would persist.
Comparing their summer timetables, Ryanair’s 2024 schedule boasts 63 destinations, just three more than Wizz Air’s 60. This marks the first time Ryanair will surpass Wizz Air in terms of destinations from Budapest, although it’s worth noting that Wizz Air remains active at the Debrecen International Airport, maintaining a lead across the entirety of Hungary.
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Wizz Air still not flying to Israel
Hungarian-based airline Wizz Air will not fly to Israel until March.
Wizz Air, the Hungarian-based airline, has decided to delay its flights to Israel until March, as reported by The Budflyer and Bloomberg. This precautionary measure comes despite the initial plan to resume operations at the end of January.
Wizz Air’s flights to Israel have been on hold since October, a period marked by caution due to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, which has caused delays in several of their aircraft departing from Ukraine.
While Wizz Air’s decision appears sensible, it stands in contrast to several major European airlines set to resume flights to Tel Aviv in the upcoming weeks. Additionally, El-Al continues to operate regular flights to major cities worldwide, including Budapest.
Read also:
- Warning: Wizz Air temporarily suspends several flights – LIST
- Feel like travelling? 30+ destinations with Wizz Air under EUR 26
Feel like travelling? 30+ destinations with Wizz Air under EUR 26
Wizz Air runs some big promotions every year, so it’s worth keeping an eye on them. Here are 37 discounted Wizz Air flights for the near future!
Utazómajom gathered some destinations which are available with Wizz Air for bargain prices. Most of the discounted tickets are for January and February, but there are also some discounted offers for March. The prices are for the tickets only, thus only one piece of small hand luggage is included. However, there are no additional taxes or charges.
Utazómajom also advises to become Wizz Air Discount Club (WDC) members: if at least two of you are travelling, it’s definitely worth buying, as you’ll get a full return on your first trip. Currently, you can buy a 2-person membership for EUR 34.99 for a year, which gives you a minimum discount of EUR 10 on tickets worth at least EUR 20 and an additional EUR 5 on luggage.
Here are the current discounted destinations:
The following destinations are available from HUF 3832 (EUR 10) with WDC membership and from HUF 5352 (EUR 14) without:
- Brussels, Targu Mures, Milan, Podgorica, Rome, Skopje, Thessaloniki, Tirana
The following destinations are available from HUF 3832 (EUR 10) with WDC membership and from HUF 6796 (EUR 17.85) without:
- Birmingham, London, Naples, Catania (Sicily), Stockholm
The following destinations are available from HUF 5342 (EUR 14) with WDC membership and from HUF 8316 (EUR 21.84) without:
- Alicante, Amman, Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Basel, Berlin, Dortmund, Eindhoven, Glasgow, Copenhagen, Larnaca, Liverpool, London, Madrid, Malta, Nice
The following destinations are available to WDC members for under HUF 10000 (EUR 26):
- Paris, Kutaisi, Lisbon, Malaga, Istanbul, Riyadh, Sharm el-Sheikh
Read also:
Warning: Wizz Air temporarily suspends several flights – LIST
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air is temporarily suspending some of its flights in the near future. The change also affects the Budapest-Damman, Debrecen-Hurghada flights.
In the second half of December, Wizz Air filed various service changes for the first quarter of 2024, Aeroroutes reports. According to the portal, in certain cases, the suspension of flights means the earlier conclusion of service for the winter season. The following list by Aeroroutes includes service operated by Wizz Air (W6), Wizz Air Malta (W4), Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (5W) and Wizz Air UK (W9), and the dates when flights will not be operated:
Abu Dhabi – Aqaba Service resumes on 04 FEB 24 instead of 09 JAN 24
Bucharest – Luxembourg 11 JAN 24 – 04 FEB 24
Bucharest – Tel Aviv Service resumes on 06 FEB 24 instead of 09 JAN 24
Budapest – Dammam 20 JAN 24 – 01 APR 24
Catania – Abu Dhabi 21 JAN 24 – 15 MAR 24
Catania – Hahn 22 JAN 24 – 31 MAR 24
Catania – Krakow 20 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Catania – Paris Beauvais 07 JAN 24 – 15 MAR 24
Catania – Sharm el Sheikh 22 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Debrecen – Hurghada 22 JAN 24 – 28 MAR 24
Dortmund – Nis 21 JAN 24 – 15 MAR 24
Dortmund – Varna 16 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Katowice – Aqaba 17 JAN 24 – 27 MAR 24
Katowice – Leeds/Bradford 20 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Krakow – Lyon 20 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Krakow – Reykjavik Keflavik 21 JAN 24 – 15 MAR 24
Krakow – Stockholm Skavsta 22 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Krakow – Valencia 22 JAN 24 – 16 MAR 24
Larnaca – Copenhagen 22 JAN 24 – 16 MAR 24
Larnaca – Jeddah 21 JAN 24 – 15 MAR 24
Larnaca – Varna 15 JAN 24 – 16 MAR 24
London Luton – Ljubljana 07 FEB 24 – 01 APR 24
Milan Malpensa – Hurghada 20 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Naples – Sharm el Sheikh 22 JAN 24 – 15 MAR 24
Skopje – Bologna 20 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Skopje – Luxembourg 20 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Tirana – Comiso 21 JAN 24 – 15 MAR 24
Tirana – Lamezia Terme 22 JAN 24 – 15 MAR 24
Venice Marco Polo – Amman 14 JAN 24 – 15 MAR 24
Venice Marco Polo – Riyadh 16 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Venice Marco Polo – Sharm el Sheikh 14 JAN 24 – 30 MAR 24
Vienna – Dammam 16 JAN 24 – 14 MAR 24
Vienna – Sharm el Sheikh 16 JAN 24 – 15 MAR 24
Vilnius – Reykjavik Keflavik 19 JAN 24 – 17 MAR 24
Warsaw – Agadir 21 JAN 24 – 30 MAR 24
Warsaw – Aqaba 17 JAN 24 – 29 MAR 24
Warsaw – Tirana 20 JAN 24 – 04 FEB 24
According to Aeroroutes, due to suspension, Wizz Air will not be offering service to the following destinations during the suspension: Aqaba, Comiso, Lamezia Terme.
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Wizz Air’s emergency landing: seats soaked in blood, passenger almost died
Wizz Air’s plane from Budapest to Abu Dhabi had to carry out an emergency landing in Ankara, Türkiye, because of a passenger. Others on board described the events as if they were in a catastrophe movie.
According to Blikk, a Hungarian tabloid, the plane took off with some delay from Budapest Airport. Instead of 1 PM, they left the runway at 1.41 PM, but nobody expected what would follow.
A woman later got sick on board. She fainted, but the cabin crew calmed other passengers, saying there was professional medical help on the plane who could help the woman. Panic broke out when some of the people saw the woman start to bleed unstoppably.
Some of the passengers were shocked by the lot of blood they saw. Thankfully, two doctors on board tried to provide medical help for the passenger but were not successful. The cabin crew created a temporary examination room for them in front of a toilet, but they could not help her.
Blood was everywhere, just like in a horror movie, a passenger told Blikk. It was on the floor, in the toilet, on the seats and in the corridor. The woman’s children cried, nobody knew what to do.
Wizz Air captain saved her life
Finally, the captain decided for an emergency landing in Ankara, Türkiye’s capital. The cabin crew tried to hide blood with some nylon bags they found on board.
A passenger said there was a seat which was soaked in blood, so they needed to replace it. After the landing, Turkish cleaners came and tidied the plane of blood.
The ambulance waited for the plane, and the woman was taken to hospital, followed by her relatives. According to Blikk’s informant, the family of four travelled to Abu Dhabi to spend New Year’s Eve there. However, a couple of weeks before, the woman went through surgery and her scar began to bleed unstoppably.
The plane arrived in Abu Dhabi with a 4-hour-long delay.
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What happened this year? — These were the most popular articles on DNH in 2023
2023 has been an incredibly eventful year. Wizz Air dominated headlines, the most beautiful Hungarian was elected, the forint was in the doldrums and celebrities swarmed Hungary. We also reported on a Hungarian national spying for Russia and a new store opening. As we bid adieu to this eventful year, let’s revisit its highlights through the lens of the most-read articles on Daily News Hungary. We extend our gratitude for your trust and anticipate the unfolding of new narratives in the days to come.
No more Schengen?
The biggest hit of this year happened to be a news snippet in October, reporting that border controls would be reintroduced at the Slovenian-Hungarian border. Wars, political tension and concerns regarding illegal migration have changed the strategy of many central European countries, igniting fears that the era of free travel within the European Union might be nearing its end.
The new Miss World Hungary
June witnessed the crowning of Boglárka Hacsi as the new Miss World Hungary, representing the nation on the global stage. In this article, we presented not only the winner but also the winner of this year’s debut public vote and all the podium finishers. You can read more about the history of the competition and the contestants in this article, with a plethora of stunning photos.
Dating a Hungarian?
Following the visual feast of Miss World Hungary, curiosity naturally turns to the intricacies of dating a Hungarian. Navigating the waters of cross-cultural romance, especially with Hungarians, proves to be a challenging experience given the uniqueness of Hungarian culture and language. However, we’ve got your back. Here’s everything you need to know before dating a Hungarian including familial dynamics, Hungarian cuisine and date night ideas.
Wizz Air
Tourism and travel have always been popular among our readers. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that travel news is also a highly sought-after topic on Daily News Hungary. An early summer surprise awaited travellers as Wizz Air came up with a mystery game, whisking winners away to undisclosed destinations. Neither the airport nor the pilot gave away any clues. To find out where the mystery plane landed, check out our article.
The unveiling of new flight routes to South Asia’s bustling metropolis added another layer to the airline’s narrative. However, not all was smooth sailing, as Hungarian authorities launched an investigation in February, accusing the airline of misleading passengers. Delve into the details here.
What will happen to the forint?
Even though this article was published on the last day of 2022, its impact has been still relevant this year. According to experts, Hungary might bid farewell to its national currency, replacing it with the euro.
Slovakia introduced the euro in 2009 and Croatia on 1 January this year, while in Hungary it is still not on the cards. The worsening forint-euro exchange rate poses challenges for Hungarian travellers, with some experts even having predicted a dire collapse back in April.
Celebrities, Russia and a new store
There is life beyond the economy, tourism and politics, of course. Residents and expats alike were buzzing about the arrival of Primark, marking its debut in Hungary.. There was a great public outcry when the Hungarian press published incorrect opening dates, which the chain later rectified. Celebrity spectacles unfolded as Johnny Depp visited Hungary for both a cancelled concert and a film shoot, and news of how the world-famous celebrity is treating his crew came to light.
Meanwhile, the Russian-Ukrainian war, a topic of grave concern given Hungary’s proximity and strategic alliances, took an unexpected twist with a Hungarian individual implicated in espionage and embezzlement of Ukrainian aid for Russia.
Christmas nightmare: Wizz Air passengers left in Dortmund before Christmas
Due to a technical problem, passengers could only return to Budapest yesterday afternoon instead of Saturday the 23rd. Wizz Air has pointed out that due to the significantly increased traffic and often adverse weather conditions, delays are frequent and occasional cancellations may occur.
Passengers left in Dortmund before Christmas
A full flight of people were kept waiting by Wizz Air in Dortmund on 24 December due to a plane malfunction on Saturday, a reader of Index wrote in a letter to the news portal. The reader wrote that her husband was due to fly home on Saturday, but the incident left them sitting on the plane for about two hours. The airline subsequently said they would not be leaving on Saturday. The passengers managed to book accommodation for the night.
On Sunday morning they were promised a plane at 10 AM. However, shortly afterwards it turned out that there would be no plane. “We have little confidence that the promise of this afternoon will be fulfilled. No Wizz Air employee with them, no information, and saddest of all, they are constantly being let down, so everyone is waiting for promises while missing out on other alternative ways to get home,” Gabriella wrote to Index.
Wizz Air explanation
Index sent a few questions to Wizz Air about the incident. The low-cost carrier underlined in its response that the days leading up to Christmas are particularly busy for air travel, as many people are travelling to visit their families and many people time their family holidays abroad for this period. Due to the significant increase in traffic and often adverse weather conditions, delays and cancellations are common.
One example was the heavy snowfall on Saturday, which forced the closure of Runway 1 at Liszt Ferenc International Airport for hours, causing flight cancellations and significant delays for all airlines affected (read more HERE). The Dortmund flight concerned experienced a technical problem and, for the safety of passengers, it was not possible to take off until the repairs had been made.
The process took longer than expected, which is why the flight had to be rescheduled for 24 December. Wizz Air has arranged accommodation, board and transfers for all passengers. Passengers on the flight departed back to Budapest yesterday afternoon at 3:30 PM.
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More Wizz Air flights to Türkiye, major refurbishment works at Budapest Airport
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air has unveiled a significant increase in weekly flights to Türkiye.
Commencing in March, the route between Budapest and Istanbul will see a rise from seven to nine flights per week, with ticket prices starting at HUF 15,590 (EUR 41).
Starting 31 March, travellers from Debrecen to Antalya can enjoy bi-weekly flights, while Budapest will offer thrice-weekly flights to the Turkish capital from April. Ticket costs remain consistent with those for the Istanbul route, as reported by utazomajom.hu.
Major refurbishment works behind the scenes
Major refurbishments have been underway at Ferenc Liszt International Airport since May, focusing on aviation safety and compliance. Completed in November, projects included renewing asphalt and concrete pavements on taxiways B3, B4 and B5, covering over 37,000 square metres. Additionally, apron AG, primarily used for aircraft parking and ground handling equipment storage, saw renewal on over 16,000 square meters. Upgrades to storm drains (over 5000 meters) and lighting substructures of taxiways B3-B5 (over 4000 meters) were part of this extensive initiative, as reported by bud.hu.
Budapest Airport’s investments prioritised environmental protection during construction while maintaining aviation safety and delivering seamless passenger traffic, with over 95% of soil and demolition waste (20,500 tons from apron AG and 58,000 tons from taxiways B3-B5 refurbishment) prepared for recycling on-site. This eco-friendly approach saved the airport from emissions equivalent to those produced by 3200 trucks transporting waste.
The investment’s total value was approximately EUR 16 million.
Monthly passenger traffic at the airport exceeds one million in November, cargo reaches record high
November marked a bustling month for Budapest Airport, with 1,149,078 passengers recorded, an 18.5% increase compared to the same period last year.
As Budapest Airport approaches the end of another year of progression, the strength of its cargo development remains robust. Having seen 112% growth in volume from 2015 to last year, 2023 continues to produce an increase in cargo traffic with new records set. Handling 22,206 tonnes in November alone, a whopping 25.9% rise when compared to the same month last year, BUD is experiencing the strongest quarter in its cargo history. The volume handled in the last 12 months has also therefore surpassed all previous records to reach 198,264 tons, while cargo traffic registered between January and November showed a 47% increase, compared to the same period before the pandemic.
 Safety first: successful emergency exercise at the airport
Hundreds of people took part in a simulated rescue during a full-scale emergency exercise at Budapest Airport. As an international airport, any potential emergency must be responded to immediately, accurately and in close cooperation with all stakeholders, so it is crucial to test the preparedness and effectiveness of cooperation between the competent units, authorities and organisations at regular intervals. In accordance with international standards, Budapest Airport organises a full-scale emergency exercise every two years, preceded by several months of planning. The purpose of the exercise is to test the emergency plan in real life and to harmonise rescue and communication processes, so that all participants are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities in the event of a real incident.
During the simulation, which took place on the night of 22nd November this year, an unused training aircraft was employed to imitate an accident. In the simulated event, the cargo aircraft made an emergency landing at Ferenc Liszt International Airport due to a fire on board. More than a hundred of people took part in the lifelike exercise, including 8 volunteers, who acted as the staff of the aircraft, while the rest of the participants were from the authorities plus the airport and rescue organisations involved in the emergency operation. According to the scenario, the incident involved several casualties, and the emergency was further complicated by the fact that the aircraft was carrying 20 tons of highly flammable fuel and other dangerous goods. The exercise was handled successfully with useful lessons drawn to further ensure that in the event of a real emergency, the BUD community are ready and fully capable.
Budapest Airport and Forest Rescuers continue joint program with the planting of eight thousand saplings
In addition to making its own operations sustainable and reducing the emissions generated at the airport, Budapest Airport is also working to protect local natural assets. As part of this initiative in 2022, the company’s volunteers, in cooperation with the Forest Rescuers (Erdőmentők) team, planted five hundred saplings in the Börzsöny hills, and this year hundreds of new trees found a home along the Selyem-Réti Nature Trail. In addition to the December campaign, Budapest Airport is supporting the work of the Forest Rescuers with several million forints, who are using the funds to plant a total of 8000 saplings around the nature trail this season.
The experts also paid special attention to the need to implement the initiative in a place where it is really crucial. At a nature trail belonging to Ócsa, climate change has led to the appearance of a fungal species that is not typical of Hungary, and has attacked the native forest tree species of the wetland forest. The only chance for this protected habitat, unparalleled in Europe, is to plant tree species resistant to the damaging fungus.
New children’s play area opens at Skycourt Foodcourt
The recently refurbished mini-airport themed play area at Pier 1 has been a great hit with children, and in November, Budapest Airport opened another empire for the youngest travellers. A new play area inspired by gastro-caravan concepts opened on the mezzanine level of the central hall of Terminal 2 next to the food and beverage outlets (FoodCourt), where children can enjoy a mini food truck, caravan and cake counter so that they can enjoy the first stop of their family holiday at the airport.
Budapest Airport has implemented numerous improvements to the passenger experience at its terminals recently, which will surely be well-received. According to the quarterly ASQ survey, Budapest Airport achieved the second best ranking in the category of airport leisure and entertainment among the twenty benchmark airports surveyed. In terms of overall satisfaction, the Hungarian capital airport was ranked highly in the list of 20, ahead of Warsaw, Vienna and Berlin, among others.
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Wizz Air rewrites timetable: flights cancelled, modified
Wizz Air has rewritten its timetable: several flights have been cancelled, others modified or frequency reduced. For example, thanks to the changes, your flight may take off in the morning instead of in the evening and vice versa. A Hungarian media outlet believes that will ruin many holidays in 2024.
The period affected spans between 22 January and 17 March. Nobody knows the reason behind the cancellations and modifications. However, okosutas.hu, a Hungarian travel news outlet, suspects low passenger numbers or the Pratt & Whitney engine problems concerning Airbus A321neo planes.
The sampling is not representative, but the Hungarian low-cost company ruined 60% of Okosutas team’s flights. For example, a long weekend in Stockholm cannot be considered long if you travel back on Sunday morning instead of the evening. Another example is Cyprus, where Wizz Air will fly on Wednesday morning instead of the evening. That is an additional school day, and some families may not want their kids to miss education for an extra day because of a Wizz modification.
Wizz Air’s Egypt flights also concerned
Of course, timetable change is better than cancellations. For example, Wizz Air threw out their Sunday Cyprus flights from Budapest.
Another destination seriously affected by the changes was Egypt. Wizz Air reduced frequency since demand decreased due to the war in Israel and Palestine. However, they also modified the flight time from morning to evening. In the case of Sharm-el-Sheikh and Hurghada, three out of the four planes will fly at night. Between Budapest and Cairo, all three became night flights. A holiday that starts at 2 AM at a foreign airport or ends with an extra night to reach a 5 AM plane cannot be considered the best.
All in all, you should check out your flight twice, even if you already obtained your ticket.
Air Serbia reduces capacities to Budapest
According to Budflyer, a Hungarian air travel news Facebook page, Serbia’s flag carrier will reduce the number of flights between the two capitals. In January and February, there will be 15 flights instead of the planned 17. In March, those figures will be 15 instead of 18.
But there is also good news, even though not for people. A cargo flight may start service next year between China’s Shenzhen, the country’s third biggest city after Beijing and Shanghai. That comes after the Hungarian government and the mayor of Szeged announced a historic Chinese carmaker investment. BYD chose to build its European factory near Szeged. The investment may reach multiple EUR billions.
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Wizz Air vs Ryanair ‘war’ continues in Italy, emergency landing in Budapest
Ryanair, Ireland’s low-cost airline, tries to conquer one of the oldest and most popular Wizz Air flights from Hungary, the route between Budapest and Milan Malpensa.
According to okosutas.hu, Ryanair will keep its flights to Milan’s budget airport, Bergamo, and will carry passengers to the Italian city’s main airgate, Malpensa next spring. That means the Irish budget airlines will not change their destination in the region but extend their activity.
Meanwhile, Malpensa is one of Wizz Air’s oldest and most popular routes. The Hungarian budget airline carries tourists there frequently.
Such a decision is not unique to Ryanair. Before, they did so in the case of Vienna. Thus, passengers can choose whether they pay more but land closer to the city centre or less and pay for a bus or train ride there from Bergamo. Afterwards, Wizz Air closed its flight to Malpensa. Hopefully, history will not repeat itself in the case of Budapest-Milan-Malpensa.
To sum up, Ryanair will extend their 1-2 daily flights to Bergamo with 1/day to Malpensa. That means you will be able to travel from Budapest on three different flights on certain days with Ryanair.
Emergency landing in Budapest
According to a local news Facebook page, a Cessna 150 plane had an emergency landing just 800m away from the houses of Rákoscsaba, Budapest’s 17th district. Authorities investigate the reasons for the emergency landing. Here are some photos:
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Wizz Air launches flights from Hungarian city to Italy’s most popular destination
The low-cost airline Wizz Air launched a direct flight from Debrecen to Rome on Wednesday.
Wizz Air, a Hungarian-owned airline, launched its first direct flight from Debrecen to Rome on Wednesday. The new route will operate twice weekly to the Italian capital.
“We are delighted to be able to add such a fabulous city to our destinations from Debrecen Airport. Italy’s capital is a bucket list destination for many reasons, whether it’s the monuments or the fantastic food. We are confident that it will be a deservedly popular destination for our passengers,” said Zsuzsa Trubek, Communications Manager of Wizz Air.
Tamás Király, CEO of Debrecen International Airport Ltd., said that the new destinations could even increase the economic and tourism strength of the region.
Wizz Air has recently introduced several innovations in Hungary. It has moved its Scotland flight from Edinburgh to Glasgow, and from October, it operates more flights from Budapest to Abu Dhabi, Hurghada, Madeira, Tenerife, Alicante, Madrid and Milan, index.hu writes.
First Wizz Air flight from Debrecen to Rome launches tomorrow!
Back in early October, we reported the good news that many had been waiting for: Debrecen International Airport announced that Wizz Air would be launching a scheduled flight from Debrecen to the popular destination of Rome. The flight will depart on Wednesday 13 December.
As we reported, Wizz Air is starting flights from Hungary’s Debrecen International Airport to Rome. The first flight will depart tomorrow, on 13 December. The flight will initially operate on Wednesdays and Fridays, and from April, on Tuesdays and Saturdays to Rome Fiumicino Airport (also known as Leonardo da Vinci International Airport). The airport is 32 kilometres southwest of Rome city centre, Dehir.hu reports.
Zsuzsa Trubek, Wizz Air’s communications manager, told Dehir.hu earlier that
their Debrecen-Rome flight promises to be successful, with strong bookings for December and January.
Wizz Air currently flies to London, Eindhoven, Larnaca in Cyprus and Egypt from Debrecen (the latter is a seasonal service, operating until spring), while Lufthansa flies to Munich. The Wizz flight to Tel Aviv was suspended due to the war and will not resume until March, but this could still be subject to change.
Next year, the Hungarian low-cost carrier will also relaunch their three seasonal holiday flights from Debrecen. Thus, in the summer and autumn of 2024, we will be able to fly from Debrecen to Antalya in Turkey, Corfu in Greece and Burgas in Bulgaria.
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Free seaside holiday and four special offers await thanks to Wizz Air
Hold your excitement for now. The free holiday applies only to a group of tourists whose flight was delayed…by quite a stretch. However, the irresistible special offers are up for grabs for everyone.
According to Budflyer, a Hungarian travel news Facebook page, Wizz Air occasionally goes above and beyond passenger expectations – and in a jolly good way. Their Abu Dhabi-Budapest flight’s delay has reached a whopping 36 hours. Why, you ask? A mishap involving an A321 Neo, one of their swankiest planes, suffered some bumps during the touchdown.
But here’s the twist: a Budflyer reader said he had no complaints whatsoever. The Hungarian low-cost airline, notorious for occasional mishandling of passenger complaints, has pulled a rabbit out of the hat. As it turned out, they’ve arranged plush accommodations for their passengers in a hotel with a private seashore. And if that’s not enough, brekkie and dinner are thrown in – courtesy of the Hungarian low-cost airline.
As per the plan, the tourists’ flight will leave the paradise today. But, our hunch is, quite a few passengers might just give Abu Dhabi a warm welcome and relish the unexpected free holiday.
Here are some photos sent by a Budflyer reader from the Middle East, enjoying the surprising outcomes.Â
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Another passenger commented that they were being treated to free accommodation near the Formula One race track.
Special Wizz Air offers for the winter
Winter’s chill got you down? Fear not, for Wizz Air comes bearing gifts – four sunny destinations from Budapest to escape the Hungarian frost. Picture this: Cyprus and Dubai, where winter clocks in at a delightful 26°C, a far cry from the scorching 41°C of summer. Third on the list is Malta, and bringing up the rear is Tenerife (Canary Islands).
Wizz direct flights commute every day to Dubai. While Cyprus is reachable on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Fancy a trip to Malta? Hop on the plane on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays. Meanwhile, a Wizz direct flight will whisk you away to Tenefire on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, roadster.hu wrote.
Having said all that, Világgazdaság revealed that Wizz Air’s Q3 results fell behind expectations. Therefore, Concorde modified the rating of its shares from neutral to sellable. The drama unfolds!
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- Wizz Air returns to Moldova: London, Rome, Milan flights resumed