The European budget airline Wizz Air will be conducting a massive expansion from London Gatwick Airport after acquiring 15 daily slot pairs from Norwegian Air Shuttle. The special deal will see the company that was greatly aided by government bailouts during the height of the coronavirus basing 4 more Airbus A321neo aircraft at the Sussex airport. View inside one of the aircraft below.
Since the opening of its base at Gatwick Airport in October 2020, Wizz Air has offered a wealth of both well-known and emerging destinations for its customers based in London and the South of England, as well as a boost to the local economy by creating local jobs. The successful bid for more slots reiterates Wizz Air’s long-term commitment to both the airport and the region.
Wizz Air’s Group Chief Executive Officer, József Váradi commented: “This announcement is further evidence of our commitment to London Gatwick Airport as well as the UK market, as we continue to create local jobs and deliver our promise of providing low-fare travel opportunities with excellent service to an ever-increasing range of exciting destinations, while flying one of the greenest aircraft fleets available on the market today. Acquiring airport slots at Gatwick Airport will enable us to enhance our presence and competitive position in the London market. We continue to develop our business in United Kingdom and remain committed to making air travel affordable for all. The 2022 season has the potential to be a tremendous opportunity for UK aviation to get back on its feet."
The expansion will see the carrier offer a mixture of year-round and seasonal routes, launching from March onwards, including Faro, Palma, Larnaca, Catania, Podgorica, Tel Aviv, Chania, Mykonos and Funchal.
The Gatwick expansion doesn't end there, to compete more fully with easyJet and the new low-cost operation to be introduced by British Airways, new routes from Milan, Rome, Vienna, Bari and Naples to Gatwick Airport will be started by Wizz Air Hungary.
Marion Geoffroy, Managing Director of Wizz Air UK, said: ““We are delighted to be launching a host of new routes from Gatwick, following the announcement of our acquisition of new slots at the airport. Whether it’s a relaxing beach holiday in the Algarve or a city break in Montenegro’s capital of Podgorica, there are many wonderful destinations to discover and return to. These new routes are further evidence of our commitment to providing low-fare connectivity to our UK customers. We are looking forward to welcoming customers old and new onboard our young, efficient and green aircraft in Summer 2022 to enjoy our excellent service as they head off on their well-deserved trips abroad.”
Stephanie Wear, Vice President of Aviation Development, Gatwick Airport, said: “Wizz Air are one of Europe’s largest airlines and have seen the benefits of expanding at the airport for some time, so I’m delighted that five Gatwick-based aircraft will fly routes to popular destinations across Europe this summer. Many competitively-priced tickets are already on sale which, after everything we’ve all been through, gives more people the opportunity to take advantage of Gatwick’s fantastic connections to visit friends and relatives, or take a long-awaited holiday, when these new flights start flying from the end of March. Despite the current situation, we’re looking forward to a better summer and Wizz Air’s expanded operation is a wonderful addition to Gatwick and VINCI Airport’s portfolio.”
Destination Days Starts
Catania, Italy Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8 April 2022
Chania, Crete Daily (summer) 7 April 2022
Bari, Italy Tuesday, Saturday 29 March 2022
Faro, Portugal Daily 27 March 2022
Funchal, Madeira Monday, Friday 28 March 2022
Larnaca, Cyprus Daily 11 April 2022
Milan, Italy Daily 27 March 2022
Mykonos, Greece Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday, Sunday. (summer) 12 April 2022
Naples, Italy Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday,
Sunday 27 March 2022
Palma, Mallorca Daily 27 March 2022
Podgorica, Montenegro Tuesday, Friday, Saturday,
Sunday 7 April 2022
Rome, Italy Daily 27 March 2022
Tel Aviv, Israel Daily 27 March 2022
Vienna, Austria Daily 27 March 2022
Inside one of the airlines new A321 aircraft