Budget airline Wizz Air is set to cut the number of flights it operates from Gatwick Airport, as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy. Chief executive József Váradi said the carrier is losing money at the UK's second busiest airport and will instead shift capacity to Luton, where costs are lower.
Mr Váradi told The Telegraph: 'Gatwick is expensive and we have been operating an inferior set of slots there. We think that we can enhance financial performance by operating that capacity from Luton.' The process will begin with a single aircraft moving from Gatwick to Luton, marking the start of an 'ongoing process' to gradually relocate the fleet.
The move follows the closure of Wizz Air's Abu Dhabi offshoot in July and the scrapping of its Vienna base due to 'airport costs and taxes'. Mr Váradi emphasised the airline does not plan to leave Gatwick entirely but aims to 'optimise' its presence there, adding: 'You have to churn your network for profit. We are simply more efficient financially in Luton.'
Separately, Wizz Air has introduced 'Wizz Class', allowing passengers to pay extra for a row with an unoccupied middle seat, priority boarding, a carry-on bag allowance, and guaranteed overhead bin space. Commercial officer Silvia Mosquera said: 'The roll-out of Wizz Class follows feedback from our growing number of business travellers who value low-cost travel options and prefer additional space during the flight.'
