Wizz Air Ukraine Ceases Operations

Eastern European Wizz Air Holdings announced Wizz Air Ukraine has ceased operations as part of the company's ongoing restructuring plan and instability in the region. Wizz Air Ukraine operated two Airbus A320s on 16 Ukrainian routes.

One aircraft has been redeployed on eight routes into and out of Ukraine as of April 20. In early June, a Kiev-based A320 will be redeployed to Wizz Air's new operating base in Kosice, Slovakia.

Following the removal of two aircraft from Ukraine last year, the carrier said it had to further refine capacity and restructure Wizz Air's Ukraine operations in Ukraine due to the ongoing instability in Eastern Ukraine, the devaluation and volatility of the local currency, and the impact of foreign exchange controls.

Wizz Air Hungary will significantly mitigate these impacts and enable Wizz Air to remain a major airline in the Ukrainian market. It said it stands ready for expansion once market circumstances improve.

The restructuring of the group's Ukrainian operations and the closure of Wizz Air Ukraine will not have a material effect on the group's trading in the current year and subsequent financial year, according to a statement.

Wizz Air transported 16.5 million passengers over 12 months through March 31, up 17% year-on-year; load factor rose 1 point to 86.7% during that period.

Wizz Air will open its 21st base in Lublin (Poland) with one new A320 from Sep. 14.

ATW

Photo:Alain Charpentier