REG - Wizz Air Holdings - Strategic realignment and focus on core markets

Wizz Air HoldingsAnnouncement

Mon 09:15

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RNS Number : 9197Q  Wizz Air Holdings PLC  14 July 2025

WIZZ AIR HOLDINGS PLC - STRATEGIC realignment AND focus on core markets
SUSPENSION OF WIZZ AIR ABU DHABI OPERATIONS

14 July 2025 - Wizz Air Holdings PLC ("Wizz Air") today announces a strategic
realignment that reinforces the Company's core strength and focus in Central
and Eastern Europe and select Western European markets. This decision follows
a comprehensive reassessment of market dynamics, operational challenges, and
geopolitical developments in the Middle East.

As a result of the suspension of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operations as part of this
strategic realignment, Wizz Air will suspend all locally based flight
operations effective 1 September 2025 and intends to exit from the joint
venture going forward and will focus on its core markets.

Strategic Rationale

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has faced increasing operational challenges over the past
year, including:

• Engine reliability constraints, particularly in hot and harsh
environments, which have impacted aircraft availability and operational
efficiency;

• Geopolitical volatility, which has led to repeated airspace closures and
operational disruptions across the region, as well as wreaking consumer
demand;

• Regulatory barriers, which have limited the Company's ability to access
and scale in key markets.

These factors have significantly impacted the viability of Wizz Air's
ultra-low-cost model in the region and its ability to deliver profitability in
line with its core European operations. Wizz Air will intensify its focus on
its core Central and Eastern European markets, as well as select Western
European countries such as Austria, Italy and the UK. This strategic
realignment to core markets will enable the Company to redeploy resources to
regions with greater long-term potential for sustainable growth and
profitability.

Wizz Air remains committed to delivering affordable, efficient, and
sustainable air travel, while maintaining a disciplined approach to capital
allocation and focus on shareholder value creation.

József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air, said: "We have had a tremendous journey in
the Middle East and are proud of what we have built. I thank our highly
dedicated employees for their relentless efforts and commitment for developing
the WIZZ brand in new and dynamic markets. However, the operating environment
has changed significantly. Supply chain constraints, geopolitical instability,
and limited market access have made it increasingly difficult to sustain our
original ambitions. While this was a difficult decision, it is the right one
given the circumstances. We continue to focus on our core markets and on
initiatives that enhance Wizz Air's customer proposition and build shareholder
value."

Passengers with existing bookings beyond 31 August 2025 will be contacted
directly via email with options for refunds or alternative travel
arrangements. Customers who booked through third-party providers are advised
to contact their respective agents. The above suspensions do not affect other
flights of the Wizz Air group.

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to
constitute inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Market Abuse
Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of
the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). By the publication of this
announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is
now considered to be in the public domain. The person responsible for
arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is
Owain Jones.

-ENDS-

About Wizz Air

 

Wizz Air operates a fleet of 237 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. A team of
dedicated aviation professionals delivers superior service and very low fares,
making Wizz Air the preferred choice of 63.4 million passengers in FY2025.
Wizz Air is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker WIZZ. The
company was named one of the world's top ten safest airlines by
airlineratings.com, the world's only safety and product rating agency, and
named Airline of the Year by Air Transport Awards in 2019 and in 2023. Wizz
Air has also been recognized as the "Most Sustainable Low-Cost Airline"
between 2021-2024 and "Best Airline for Carbon Reduction" by World Finance
Sustainability Awards in 2024. Wizz Air also received "EMEA's Environmental
Sustainability Airline Group of the Year" by the CAPA-Centre for Aviation
Awards for Excellence 2024.

 

For more information:

Investors:
 Mark Simpson, Wizz Air            
 Beata Szanto, Wizz
Air              
investor.relations@wizzair.com (mailto:investor.relations@wizzair.com)

 Media:
 Andras Rado, Wizz Air
           
communications@wizzair.com (mailto:communications@wizzair.com)
 James McFarlane / Eleni Menikou / Charles Hirst, MHP Group 
  wizz@mhpgroup.com (mailto:wizz@mhpgroup.com)

 

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