Wizz Air unveils Olympic-livery
Wizz Air is the official airline of the Hungarian Olympic Team and has unveiled a special "Team Hungary"-livery on one of its aircraft. Airbus A321-200NX HA-LGI (11800) is the lucky aircraft and carries large "Team Hungary"-titles, as well as a golden tail.
The Airbus will carry the special livery throughout the summer season, so keep an eye out for it during your spotting trips.
Photo by Wizz Air.
Wizz Air Holdings has firmed 75 incremental A321-200neo options with Airbus with deliveries due in 2028-2029.
The order confirms a decision to firm 75 purchase rights approved by the carrier's shareholders already in September 2022, which until now remained tentative.
The holding did not disclose whether the aircraft will be placed with its European units (Wizz Air, Wizz Air UK, and Wizz Air Malta) or also with Wizz Air Abu Dhabi or its prospective Saudi Arabian joint venture.
The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that Wizz Air currently operates forty-five A320-200s, six A320-200Ns, thirty-seven A321-200s, and eighty-nine A321-200NX across its European AOCs, while the Emirati AOC operates four A321-200s and seven A321-200NX. Excluding this new commitment, the group has outstanding orders for 276 A320neo Family aircraft, comprising thirteen A320neo, 216 A321neo, and forty-seven A321-200NY(XLR)s, albeit the airline retains flexibility regarding converting the variants.
Wizz Air launches new units and orders more aircraft
Wizz Air is in a big expansion mode and has transferred its first aircraft to its new Maltese subsidiary. We already reported on the plans about this new unit in May 2022. The first aircraft registered in Malta is Airbus A321-200NX 9H-WAM (10389), which was previously registered HA-LVS and registered on 25 September 2022. By summer 2023, Wizz Air Malta is set to have 78 aircraft.
The company is also planning to establish a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia, now that the number of flights operating to that country is expanding rapidly. In total, Wizz Air is considering growing the fleet of the new unit to 50 aircraft by 2030. Wizz Air is now in discussions with local partners to back-up the plans.
To be able to handle this growth, the Wizz Air Holding announced it has decided to firm up options for 75 A321neos into firm orders. The new Airbuses will be used for expansion as well as replacing older, less fuel efficient A320s/A321s in the fleet.
Photo by Wizz Air.
Wizz Air Holdings has firmed up seventy-five A321-200N options as it seeks to both grow its fleet and lower its fuel consumption.
"On 14 September 2022, [Wizz Air] gave notice to Airbus to exercise Purchase Rights in relation to 75 Airbus A321neo aircraft. Delivery dates of the Purchase Option Aircraft are subject to agreement between Wizz Air and Airbus and will be subject to the approval of Wizz Air shareholders as a Class 1 transaction under the Financial Conduct Authority's Listing Rules," the carrier said in a stock market filing.
The options were secured as a part of its 2021 order for seventy-five A321-200Ns and twenty-seven A321-200NY(XLR)s, Wizz Air's share of an order for 255 aircraft placed by the LCC's investor Indigo Partners.
Wizz Air said the new order would bring it closer to its target fleet of around 500 aircraft by the end of the 2020s. The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows its Wizz Air (W6, Budapest) subsidiary currently operates fifty A320-200s, six A320-200Ns, thirty-five A321-200s, fifty-three A321-200NX, and a single A330-200F (operated on behalf of the Hungarian government). Wizz Air UK (W9, London Luton) operates three A320s, six A321-200s, and eight A321-200NX, while Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (5W, Abu Dhabi Int'l) operates four A321-200NX. The holding's order book prior to the new commitment comprised thirteen A320neo, 245 A321neo, and forty-seven A321neo(XLR)s.
US-based private equity firm Indigo Partners has placed an order with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) for 255 additional A321-200neo Family aircraft.
Announced during the ongoing Dubai Air Show, the order will be distributed across the budget airline specialist firm's various AOCs as follows:
In addition to this order, Volaris and JetSMART will convert thirty-eight existing A320neo orders to A321neo.
According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Wizz Air's current inventory and order backlog consist of fifty-eight A320-200s, six A320-200Ns (with 34 on order), thirty-four A321-200s, and twenty-nine A321-200NXs (with 179 on order). Its Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (5W, Abu Dhabi Int'l) subsidiary operates four A321neo while Wizz Air UK (W9, London Luton) operates three A320ceo, seven A321ceo, and four A321neo.
US-based Frontier operates nineteen A320ceo, seventy-three A320neo (with 58 on order), and twenty-one A321ceo. It also has sixty-seven A321neo and eighteen A321neo(XLR)s on order.
Mexican LCC Volaris operates four A319-100s, forty A320ceo, thirty-four A320neo (with 54 due), ten A321ceo, and six A321neo (with 39 due). Volaris Costa Rica (Q6, San José Juan Santamaría) operates two A319s and Volaris El Salvador (N3, San Salvador Int'l) one A320neo.
Chile-based JetSMART operates six A320ceo and eight A320neo (with 56 due) with orders for seven A321neo and twelve A321neo(XLR)s. JetSMART Argentina (WJ, Buenos Aires Ezeiza) operates five A320ceo.
Indigo Partners portfolio airlines order 2.55 A321neo Family aircraft
Dubai, 14 November 2021 – Wizz Air (Hungary), Frontier (United States), Volaris (Mexico) and JetSMART (Chile, Argentina), Indigo Partners portfolio airlines, have announced an order for 255 additional A321neo Family aircraft under a joint Indigo Partners agreement. The firm order was signed at the Dubai Airshow.
This order brings the total number of aircraft ordered by the Indigo Partners’ airlines to 1,145 A320 Family aircraft. The aircraft ordered today are a mix of A321neos and A321XLRs, which will be delivered to the individual airlines as follows:
In addition to this order, Volaris and JetSMART will upconvert 38 A320neo to A321neo from their existing aircraft backlogs.
“This order reaffirms our portfolio airlines’ commitment to consistent growth through the next decade. The Airbus A321neo and A321XLR have industry-leading efficiency, low unit costs and a substantially reduced carbon footprint relative to prior models. With these aircraft, Wizz, Frontier, Volaris and JetSMART will continue to offer low fares, stimulate the markets they serve and improve their industry-leading sustainability profile,” said Bill Franke, Managing Partner of Indigo Partners.
“We are happy to further expand our relationship with our great Indigo Partners’ airlines Wizz, Frontier, Volaris and JetSMART who have acted fast and decisively over the last few months to position themselves for this landmark order as the effect of the pandemic recedes and the world wants more sustainable flying,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.
The A321neo incorporates new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver more than 25 percent fuel and CO2 savings, as well as a 50 percent noise reduction. The A321XLR version provides a further range extension to 4,700nm. This gives the A321XLR a flight time of up to 11 hours, with passengers benefitting throughout the trip from Airbus’ award-winning Airspace interior, which brings the latest cabin technology to the A320 Family.
By the end of October 2021, the A320neo Family had totalled more than 7,550 orders from 122 customers since its launch in 2010. Since its Entry into Service five years ago, Airbus has delivered over 1,950 A320neo Family aircraft contributing to 10 million tons of CO2 saving.
Indigo Partners LLC, based in Phoenix, Arizona, is a private equity fund focused on worldwide investments in air transportation
Truck Gets Wedged Underneath Wizz Air Airbus A320neo In Poland
This week, a water-supply truck found itself wedged beneath a fairly new Wizz Air Airbus A320neo in Gdańsk, Poland. The aircraft was being prepared for a flight to Stockholm, Sweden, when the incident took place.
According to the Polish website Trojmiasto.pl, the unusual occurrence took place at Gdańsk’s Lech Wałęsa Airport, just before flight W61731 was departing for Stockholm. The source notes that the incident took place on Thursday morning. However, data from FlightRadar24.com suggests that the incident aircraft, HA-LJB, was preparing for the Gdańsk-Stockholm trip on January 5th, with no Wizz Air services taking place for this route on Thursdays.
During the preparation of the aircraft for departure, a ground services vehicle responsible for supply the aircraft’s water sustained damage as it reportedly caught on the jet’s landing gear while reversing. The airport’s fire brigade was dispatched, with an ambulance called as well.
The source notes that the truck, belonging to an airport handling agent, has been destroyed, although the driver was uninjured. No passengers were on the aircraft.
The photos above clearly confirm the damage sustained by the vehicle, with its frame and chassis warped. Judging by these photos, it looks like the truck reversed too much as it was positioning itself- however, this has not been confirmed.
An airport spokesperson told Trojmiasto.pl that a replacement aircraft was arranged for the flight. Data from FlightRadar24.com confirms that HA-LJB, the aircraft involved, hasn’t made any subsequent flights from Gdánsk since the incident.
The extent of the aircraft’s damage has not been made public, but it’s been noted that a technical inspection will need to take place before the plane returns to service.
HA-LJB is a nearly-new aircraft, having been delivered to Wizz Air from Airbus facilities in Toulouse at the end of July 2020. The A320neo is configured for 186 passengers in an all-economy layout and is powered by Pratt & Whitney engines.
Unfortunately, events like this happen from time to time and are largely due to human error. Here are some previous instances as reported by Simple Flying:
Wizz Air To Base An Airbus A321 At Cardiff As Expansion Continues
Wizz Air UK has today shared that it will open a new base at Cardiff Airport in Wales. This will be the carrier’s fourth United Kingdom base, along with London Luton, Gatwick, and Doncaster Sheffield. For now, it will allocate a single Airbus A321 to the airport to assist with the launch of nine new leisure routes.
According to Wizz, the new routes from Cardiff will enable passengers to take in plenty of sun across Europe and North Africa. Furthermore, the move will mark a considerable overhaul at Cardiff Airport and the local region as there will be more than 40 direct jobs and over 250 indirect jobs created. Notably, there will be an increase in yearly capacity at the site by over 350,000 seats.
Below is the schedule for Wizz Air UK’s nine routes from Cardiff next year:
| Destination | Service Days | Starts | Fares From (One Way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alicante | Thursday, Sunday | March 28th, 2021 | £29.99 ($37.40) |
| Faro | Thursday, Sunday (Summer) Tuesday, Saturday (Winter) | March 28th, 2021 | £29.99 ($37.40) |
| Larnaca | Thursday, Sunday (Summer) Tuesday, Saturday (Winter) | March 27th, 2021 | £36.99 ($49.44) |
| Tenerife | Monday, Wednesday, Friday | March 26th, 2021 | £31.99 ($42.76) |
| Heraklion | Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Summer only) | March 26th, 2021 | £36.99 ($49.44) |
| Corfu | Tuesday, Saturday (Summer only) | March 29th, 2021 | £36.99 ($49.44) |
| Palma De Mallorca | Thursday, Sunday (Summer only) | March 28th, 2021 | £27.99 ($37.41) |
| Lanzarote | Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Winter only) | October 1st, 2021 | £31.99 ($42.76) |
| Sharm El Sheikh | Thursday, Sunday (Winter only) | November 1st, 2021 | £45.99 ($61.47) |
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Wizz Air UK managing director Owain Jones spoke about how exciting this expansion is for his airline. He expressed the commitment that the company has across the whole of the UK,
“The creation of our fourth UK base at Cardiff Airport reflects Wizz Air’s continued commitment to serving the UK market and generating economic growth, as we create local jobs, stimulate the tourism and hospitality industries and deliver on our promise of providing affordable, direct flights to exciting holiday destinations,” Jones said.
“Today’s expansion into Wales brings increased connectivity to the region, so passengers can take advantage of Wizz Air’s ultra-low fares to travel to their favourite sunny holiday spots on-board our young and green aircraft fleet. With the launch of 47 new routes from the UK this year alone, we’re making sure that passengers can make up for lost time in creating amazing travel memories.”
Meanwhile, Spencer Birns, interim CEO of Cardiff Airport, shared that his team is ecstatic to welcome Wizz Air UK. He said it is fantastic that Wales has been chosen to be the next base for one of the globe’s leading low-cost carriers. Altogether, the move will bring more choices at affordable prices for passengers to travel to some of the most popular holiday destinations from the Welsh capital.
Additionally, Ken Skates, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, summarized the move by emphasizing how important the step is for Cardiff Airport. There will be the creation of several jobs and an increase in activity. Therefore, the Wizz operations will ultimately help the hub emerge from the impact of the pandemic.
The executive added that many people in Wales are craving a vacation following a challenging year. So, he highlights that the new services, which are now on sale, will give greater opportunities for holidays to be planned in 2021.
Altogether, the Cardiff base shows Wizz Air’s intention of not slowing down with its expansions. Along with its progress across the UK, the brand has been making substantial developments globally, such as with its Abu Dhabi project.
“Wizz Air and the Hungarian government are in discussions with regard to the operation of the aircraft and if and when an arrangement is finalized we will make an announcement.”
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