Wizz Air hits wall in bid for Gatwick growth

Wizz Air has a chance to become a force across Europe, using its low-cost structure and financial clout to capture a bigger share of the market when the coronavirus finally lets up. The Hungarian discount carrier has snapped up airport capacity in Italy, Germany, Norway and the UK during the pandemic, but the westward push has been slowed by measures meant to stabilize an industry hard hit by the outbreak. Authorities in the UK and the EU have extended a waiver of rules that force airlines to relinquish unused takeoff and landing slots -- shielding them from rivals targeting expansion at hubs like London Gatwick. Wizz CEO Jozsef Varadi argues that the measures are protectionist, and that airports starved for fees would welcome fresh tenants. “Airports are firing people as a result of incumbent airlines stopping flights,” Varadi said. “We could revive those airports but we’re being blocked out.” Controlling more slots would help Wizz capture a bigger share of the travel rebound when it arrives. Varadi has modeled the company after Ryanair. Both airlines have signaled that they’ll keep taking plane deliveries and opening new bases in preparation for the upturn. In a market unlikely to return to 2019 levels for several years, any gains they make will come at the cost of others.<br/>