Wizz Air Announces Major Flight Cuts from Gatwick
Budget carrier Wizz Air has confirmed plans to significantly reduce its flight operations from London Gatwick Airport. The Hungarian airline's chief executive, József Váradi, stated the company is losing money at the UK's second busiest airport and will instead shift its focus to Luton Airport where operating costs are lower.
Why Wizz Air is Leaving Gatwick
In a frank assessment, Mr Váradi explained the decision stems from high operating costs at Gatwick combined with what he described as an 'inferior set of slots'. The airline believes it can enhance its financial performance by moving this capacity to Luton, where it can operate more efficiently.
The transition will begin with moving a single aircraft from Gatwick to Luton, marking the start of what Mr Váradi calls an 'ongoing process' to gradually shift the fleet. This strategic move follows similar actions taken by the airline earlier this year, including the closure of its Abu Dhabi-based offshoot in July and the scrapping of its Vienna base due to airport costs and taxes.
What This Means for Passengers
While Wizz Air doesn't plan to abandon Gatwick completely, the airline aims to 'optimise' its presence there. Mr Váradi emphasised the need to 'churn your network for profit', indicating that the airline will focus its operations where they're most financially viable.
The announcement comes alongside the airline's recent launch of 'Wizz Class', a new premium option offering passengers extra legroom by guaranteeing an empty middle seat on their row. The service, which also includes priority boarding and carry-on baggage allowance, will debut on selected flights from London, Rome, Warsaw, Bucharest and Budapest in December.
This restructuring reflects the ongoing challenges budget airlines face in balancing airport costs with competitive pricing, particularly at major airports like Gatwick where slot availability and operational expenses present significant hurdles to profitability.
