Wizz Air announced on Thursday that it has reached an agreement with the Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company to establish a local airline in Abu Dhabi. The New Airline will be called “Wizz Air Abu Dhabi” and is expected to launch in the second half of 2020.
Wizz Air Holdings Plc announced today that they have reached an agreement in principle with the Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company PJSC (ADDH) to establish a new airline in the United Arab Emirates. The proposed new airline will be called “Wizz Air Abu Dhabi” and is set to become Wizz Air’s first new airline venture outside of Europe. Wizz Air is the second largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in Europe and the largest LCC in Central and Eastern Europe.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will be a joint venture and is expected to launch in the second half of 2020. The new airline will focus on routes where Wizz Air is experiencing substantial growth in Central, Eastern and Western Europe and in the long-term also provide service on routes to the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Africa. Wizz Air and ADDH believe an ultra-low cost carrier based in Abu Dhabi will contribute to the city’s growth as a world-class cultural and tourist destination. The partnership will leverage ADDH’s deeply rooted market knowledge to help Wizz Air support and navigate the establishment of the new airline. Commenting on today’s announcement, Wizz Air Holding’s Chief Executive Officer, József Váradi said,
“We are proud that our first airline to be established outside Europe is in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. ADDH’s deep rooted knowledge of the local market, support and navigation in a new market for Wizz is invaluable and will boost the successful development of this low-cost airline. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will be an incremental path growth for Wizz Air, built on our ultra-low cost business model, bringing affordable travel to even more customers. We believe the new airline has the potential to be a significant player in the region. I would like to express my greatest gratitude to H.E. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan and Mr. Mohammad Al Suwaidi for their dedication and support, without which this unique partnership would not have been realized.”
The establishment of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will be subject to a definitive agreement with ADDH, regulatory approval from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority to obtain an Air Operator’s Certificate and various other internal and external approvals. The proposed airline will operate a fleet of Airbus A321neos with access to a market of millions of potential customers across Europe and beyond.
The Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company was established in 2018 and is a public joint stock company (PJSC). The company has a diverse portfolio of state owned enterprises across key sectors of Abu Dhabi’s economy including utilities, tourism, transportation & logistics, industries, real estate, healthcare, agri-foods and information & communications technology. ADDH has a mandate to generate sustainable financial returns for the Government of Abu Dhabi by developing prominent cluster ecosystems and instilling a culture of efficiency and performance across its portfolio. The company also invests in targeted sectors that align with Abu Dhabi’s leadership vision both domestically and across the world.
Wizz Air serves 153 destinations across 44 countries and operates an all-Airbus fleet of 120 aircraft including A320s, A321s and A321neos. The airline is the largest LCC in Central and Eastern Europe and operates one of the youngest fleets in the world.
Source: Wizz Air