Wizz Air Abu Dhabi
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| Founded | 12 December 2019 | ||||||
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| Ceased operations | 1 September 2025 | ||||||
| Operating bases | Zayed International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 12 | ||||||
| Destinations | 29[2] | ||||||
| Parent company | Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (51%) Wizz Air Holdings Plc. (49%) | ||||||
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | ||||||
| Key people | Johan Eidhagen (Officer and Managing Director)[3] | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (Arabic: ويز اير أبوظبي) is an outgoing Emirati low-cost airline based at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The company is a subsidiary of the Hungarian Wizz Air. In July 2025, the company announced the cessation of its operations from Abu Dhabi on 1 September 2025.[4]
History
[edit]On 12 December 2019, it was announced by Wizz Air that it would be setting up a new subsidiary, based at Zayed International Airport, offering low-cost flights from the airport to tap into growth markets across the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.[5] The airline is a joint venture with state-owned Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ)[6] (formerly, Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company, ADDH), which owns 51 per cent with Wizz Air Holdings owning the remaining 49 per cent.[7] Flights began in November 2020 with two Airbus A321neo aircraft, rising to 50 over the next few years.[5]
In July 2020, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi announced its initial route network, launching 6 destinations from its base in Abu Dhabi.[8] In an interview, Jozsef Váradi, chief executive of Wizz Air, said that the airline's fleet could grow to 100 aircraft in the next 15 years.[9]
In April 2021, as planned, Wizz Air added Abu Dhabi to its services, offering connections to Europe beyond the UAE to neighbouring Arab countries.[10]
In July 2025, Wizz Air announced it would cease all Abu Dhabi operations effective 1 September 2025, ending its six-year presence in the UAE to focus on its core European markets. It cited several challenges including geopolitical instability leading to airspace closures, extreme heat affecting engine efficiency, regulatory barriers limiting route permissions and operational constraints that undermined its low-cost model. The company's chief executive, József Váradi, called the decision "tough but necessary."[11] Later in an interview to The Daily Telegraph, he accused the Abu Dhabi government of favoritism to the government-owned flag carrier Etihad Airways, also owned by ADQ. Wizz Air had planned to start routes to India and Pakistan as part of their investment memorandum and was granted permission to do so by the respective countries. However, Abu Dhabi later decided to hand over their designation to Etihad, leading to a breakdown in the relationship.[12]
Destinations
[edit]As of March 2025[update], Wizz Air Abu Dhabi serves these destinations:[13]
These destinations from Abu Dhabi are flown by the sister subsidiary Wizz Air Hungary (W6) or Wizz Air Malta (W4) and not by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (5W):[16]
Austria: Vienna
Hungary: Budapest
Italy: Milan–Malpensa (begins 2 June 2025)
Poland: Katowice, Kraków
Romania: Bucharest–Otopeni
Wizz Air Hungary/Malta formerly operated from these destinations to Abu Dhabi:
Fleet
[edit]
As of July 2025[update], Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operates the following aircraft:
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A321-200 | 8 | – | 230 | |
| Airbus A321neo | 4 | – | 239 | |
| Airbus A321XLR | – | TBA | 239 | Deliveries from 2026.[17] |
| Total | 12 | – | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Airline Code Full Details - Wizz Air Abu Dhabi". avcodes.co.uk.
- ^ "Wizz Air Abu Dhabi on ch-aviation". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
- ^ "Leadership Team". Wizz Air. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/156043-wizz-air-abu-dhabi-to-end-ops-in-late-3q25
- ^ a b Powley, Tanya (12 December 2019). "Wizz Air to set up low-cost airline in Abu Dhabi". Financial Times.
- ^ "Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company becomes ADQ and expands portfolio". www.sme10x.com. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
- ^ Nagraj, Aarti (2020-12-29). "Low-cost airline Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to begin flights to inaugural destination Athens in Jan". Gulf Business. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
- ^ Liu, Jim (12 July 2020). "Wizz Air Abu Dhabi schedules October 2020 launch". Routesonline.
- ^ "Wizz Air chief predicts 100-aircraft Abu Dhabi operation". Flightglobal. 22 July 2020.
- ^ "Wizz Air Abu Dhabi commences flight to Tel Aviv on April 18". Emerati News. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ "Low-cost carrier Wizz Air to exit Abu Dhabi operations". Khaleej Times. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ Jasper, Christopher (2025-07-20). "Wizz Air quit Gulf after Abu Dhabi went back on deal, boss says". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
- ^ "WizzAir Booking mask". wizzair.com.
- ^ a b "Wizz Air Online Booking". Wizz Air. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Route map Wizz Air Abu Dhabi". Flightconnections. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Route map Wizz Air Hungary". Flightconnections. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to add A321XLRs with new engines in 2026". ch-aviation.com. 24 Sep 2024.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Wizz Air Abu Dhabi at Wikimedia Commons
