Grand Wizz Air announcement: new base and 12 new flights near Budapest

Just weeks after pulling out of its Abu Dhabi base and shelving its Asian expansion plans due to slower-than-expected regional growth, Wizz Air has made a major announcement in Europe. Rather than just adding a few routes, the Hungarian low-cost carrier revealed it will open a new base in Bratislava, station two A321neo aircraft in the Slovak capital, and launch 12 new routes.

Wizz Air expands in Slovakia

Wizz Air is making a robust return to European markets, aiming for ambitious growth targets. Rival Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary previously predicted the Hungarian budget airline would fade as an independent player within a few years, but CEO József Váradi and his team appear determined to prove otherwise. The new base in Bratislava is located roughly 200 kilometers from Budapest, with a direct highway connection making travel between the two cities just a two-hour drive.

The Bratislava base will house 2 A321neo aircraft and gradually roll out 12 new routes between November 14 and December 16. According to Budflyer, the new destinations will include Barcelona, Varna, Málaga, Alicante, Athens, Oslo, Basel, Naples, Niš, Plovdiv, Lamezia Terme, and Palermo. Bratislava International Airport says the new Wizz Air base and routes could boost annual passenger numbers by up to one million. However, this also means fewer Slovak and ethnic Hungarian passengers from the region may fly out of Budapest, as those in western Hungary may now opt for the closer Bratislava airport as a departure or arrival point.