Wizz Air plans to grow Skopje-based fleet to six

Wizz Air is looking at adding a sixth aircraft to its Skopje base from May of next year and has increased planned frequencies on a number of routes from the Macedonian capital as a result. The development is also a clear sign the airline plans to take part in the upcoming public call, to be issued by the Macedonian government, aimed at subsidising the launch of new routes from the country between 2023 and 2025. Wizz Air has won all three previous such tenders. The budget carrier, which has handled over a million passengers on its Skopje and Ohrid operations so far this year, plans to increase frequencies to Baden Baden, Berlin, Bratislava, Charleroi, Dortmund, Hamburg, Memmingen and Stockholm Skavsta from May next year. Wizz Air maintained operations from Skopje this past summer season with five jets.

Wizz Air is said to be considering new services from Skopje to Slovenia, Prague, as well as the resumption of some routes which have been discontinued by the carrier from the Macedonian capital over the past few years, such as Barcelona. New services from Ohrid are also expected if it wins the upcoming subsidy tender. On the other hand, the Macedonian government has said a new subsidy model has been drafted, which differs from those in the past, with the aim of attracting as many new airlines as possible. Previously, no other carrier has shown interest in the subsidy scheme other than Wizz Air.

Commenting on the Macedonian government’s subsidy policy, Wizz Air’s CEO, Jozsef Varadi, previously told EX-YU Aviation News, "We think that, strategically, it is important for the country to continue to develop its infrastructure and accessibility. Given the stage of development of Macedonia's market it looks like some government aid is important and it has been a successful recipe for building traffic from Skopje, but it is a government decision" Asked whether Wizz would continue to grow its operations out of the country even without state subsidies, Mr Varadi noted, "We would look at the commercial opportunities on a constant basis and if we would find a new route opportunity that is totally justifiable, yes, we would do it on its own merit".

EX-YU Aviation News

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