Wizz Air to set up low-cost airline in Abu Dhabi

Wizz Air plans to set up a low-cost airline in Abu Dhabi next year to tap into growth markets across the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The airline, to be called Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, will be a joint venture with state-owned Abu Dhabi Development Holding, ADDH, which will own 51 per cent. It is expected to start flying in the second half of 2020 with three Airbus A321neo aircraft, rising to 50 over the next 10 years. The move is a departure for Hungary-based Wizz Air, one of the largest low-cost airlines in central and eastern Europe. The new carrier will be the group’s first established outside Europe. In May 2018, it set up a UK airline in part to ensure it can keep operating in the UK after Brexit. CE Jozsef Varadi said the decision was founded in his belief that the “centre of aviation” is going to shift from west to east, noting that airports in western Europe were increasingly constrained and more expensive. The new airline would have access to markets with a total of 5bn customers. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will begin flying on routes between Europe and the Middle East, but will expand to the Indian subcontinent and Africa in the longer term. “In 10 years . . . we expect to have around 50 aircraft carrying about 15 to 20m passengers so we will be a sizeable carrier,” said Varadi.<br/>