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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