Wizz Air Abu Dhabi
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| Founded | 12 December 2019 | ||||||
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Ceased operations | 1 September 2025 | ||||||
Operating bases | Zayed International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 12 | ||||||
| Destinations | 29[1] | ||||||
| Parent company | Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (51%) Wizz Air (49%) | ||||||
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | ||||||
| Key people | Johan Eidhagen (Managing Director)[2] | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (Arabic: ويز اير أبوظبي) was an Emirati low-cost airline based at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. It was owned by Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (51%) and Wizz Air (49%). It operated from January 2021 until September 2025.
History
[edit]In December 2019, Wizz Air announced it would establish a new subsidiary, based at Zayed International Airport, offering low-cost flights from the airport to tap into growth markets across the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent.[3] The airline is a joint venture with state-owned Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ)[4] which owns 51 per cent with Wizz Air Holdings owning the remaining 49 per cent.[5] Flights began in January 2021 with two Airbus A321neo aircraft on flights to Athens.[3][6]
In July 2020, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi announced its initial route network, launching six destinations from its base in Abu Dhabi.[7]
In April 2021, Wizz Air added Abu Dhabi to its services, offering connections to Europe beyond the United Arab Emirates to neighbouring Arab countries.[8]
In July 2025, Wizz Air announced it would cease all Abu Dhabi operations effective 1 September 2025, ending its six-year presence in the UAE to focus on its core European markets. It cited several challenges including geopolitical instability leading to airspace closures, extreme heat affecting engine efficiency, regulatory barriers limiting route permissions and operational constraints that undermined its low-cost model.
The company's chief executive, József Váradi, called the decision "tough but necessary."[9] Váradi later accused the Abu Dhabi government of favoritism to the government-owned flag carrier Etihad Airways, also owned by ADQ.[10]
According to Váradi, Wizz Air had planned to start routes to India and Pakistan as part of their investment memorandum and was granted permission to do so, but Abu Dhabi later decided to hand over their designation to Etihad.[10] Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves responded that there was no favoritism toward Etihad by Abu Dhabi and that the aviation regulation in the UAE adhered to the universal principle of grandfather rights which is an international norms practice where incumbent carriers retain established traffic rights based on historical precedence, stating that he would not go to Paris and expect to take over traffic rights of Air France.[11]
Destinations
[edit]In March 2025, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi served these destinations:[12]
These destinations from Abu Dhabi were flown by the sister subsidiary Wizz Air Hungary (W6) or Wizz Air Malta (W4) and not by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (5W):[15]
Austria: Vienna
Hungary: Budapest
Italy: Milan–Malpensa
Poland: Katowice, Kraków
Romania: Bucharest–Otopeni
Wizz Air Hungary/Malta formerly operated from these destinations to Abu Dhabi:
Fleet
[edit]
At the time of its closure on 1 September 2025, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operated the following aircraft:[citation needed]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A321-200 | 8 | — | 230 | |
| Airbus A321neo | 4 | — | 239 | |
| Airbus A321XLR | — | TBA | 239 | Deliveries from 2026.[16] |
| Total | 12 | — | ||
References
[edit]- ↑ "Wizz Air Abu Dhabi on ch-aviation". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
- ↑ "Leadership Team". Wizz Air. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- 1 2 Powley, Tanya (12 December 2019). "Wizz Air to set up low-cost airline in Abu Dhabi". Financial Times.
- ↑ "Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company becomes ADQ and expands portfolio". www.sme10x.com. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
- ↑ Nagraj, Aarti (2020-12-29). "Low-cost airline Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to begin flights to inaugural destination Athens in Jan". Gulf Business. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
- ↑ Wizzing into service Airliner World March 2021 page 11
- ↑ Liu, Jim (12 July 2020). "Wizz Air Abu Dhabi schedules October 2020 launch". Routesonline.
- ↑ "Wizz Air Abu Dhabi commences flight to Tel Aviv on April 18". Emerati News. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ↑ "Low-cost carrier Wizz Air to exit Abu Dhabi operations". Khaleej Times. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- 1 2 Jasper, Christopher (2025-07-20). "Wizz Air quit Gulf after Abu Dhabi went back on deal, boss says". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
- ↑ "No 'favouritism' for Etihad in Abu Dhabi, says CEO Antonoaldo Neves". Gulf News. 22 July 2025.
- ↑ "WizzAir Booking mask". wizzair.com. 2004.
- 1 2 "Wizz Air Online Booking". Wizz Air. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ↑ "Route map Wizz Air Abu Dhabi". Flightconnections. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- 1 2 "Route map Wizz Air Hungary". Flightconnections. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ↑ "Wizz Air Abu Dhabi to add A321XLRs with new engines in 2026". ch-aviation. 24 Sep 2024.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Wizz Air Abu Dhabi at Wikimedia Commons
