Wizz Air CEO touring EX-YU markets as airline eyes expansion
Wizz Air’s CEO, Jozsef Varadi, is touring former Yugoslav markets as part of efforts to identify new growth opportunities in the region. Mr Varadi will be in Belgrade today and is set to continue to Skopje later on. The airline boasts bases in both cities and is considering further growing its presence in the two capitals. Over the last six months, Wizz Air has launched new operations from Belgrade to Hahn, Billund, Vaxjo, Barcelona, Rome and Nice and has based its third aircraft in the city. Potential new routes of interest to the budget carrier from its Belgrade base include Lisbon, Cologne and Milan.
Wizz Air recently based its fifth jet back at Skopje Airport, restoring its fleet in the city to pre-pandemic levels. The budget carrier now boasts three Airbus A321s and two A320s in the Macedonian capital. The carrier is preparing to take part in the Macedonian government’s tender aimed at subsidising the launch of new routes, which it has won on all three previous occasions. Tender procedures are likely to kick off this summer with Wizz considering flights from Skopje to Slovenia, as well as a destination on the Croatian coast, Prague and the resumption of some routes previously discontinued by the carrier from the Macedonian capital. New services from Ohrid are also expected.
The low cost airline has significantly expanded throughout the region in recent months, with additional new routes from its base in Sarajevo, as well as new seasonal operations to Split. In addition, the carrier has singled the possibility of opening a base in Pristina in the near future. “The Balkans are one of our success stories. We will look at new opportunities in the region as long as we are satisfied with the marketplace”, the company said. Apart from new routes, the airline is also looking at hiring new pilots from the region. It will host an open day for students and experienced pilots in Ljubljana on April 25, as well as in Zagreb on April 26.
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