Low cost carrier Wizz Air has continued to reduce its available seat capacity across almost all former Yugoslav markets during the coming fourth quarter when compared to the same period last year. This is despite faster-than-expected turnarounds of some engine inspections that have been grounding a significant proportion of its fleet that has resulted in wide-scale cuts across its network. In 2025, the low cost airline anticipates for 35 aircraft to be grounded, which will enable it to return to growth, following almost no increase in capacity this year, a rarity for a major low cost carrier, which generally rely on wide-scale growth to maintain revenue and profitability. In Skopje, where Wizz Air boasts the biggest base in the former Yugoslavia, the low cost carrier will see a 22.6% capacity cut on 2023 or 125.726 fewer seats than last year. Similarly in Ohrid, the number of available seats will be reduced by 32.6% or 17.858.
In Belgrade, despite operating more flights this September and October when compared to last year, Wizz Air will cut its overall capacity during the last quarter of the year by 27.6%, wiping out 148.292 seats from the market, while in Niš it will have 36.316 fewer seats or a 57.2% reduction on 2023. Over in Pristina, the cuts will be more modest, with the carrier reducing capacity by 6.4%. This results in the removal of 9.366 seats from the market. In Podgorica, Wizz Air is reducing capacity by 7.3% or 5.452 seats. Similarly, in Ljubljana, with one route less than last year, the carrier will have 44.9% less capacity on the Slovenian market or 11.756 fewer seats.
The only market in the former Yugoslavia where Wizz Air will buck the trend is Bosnia and Herzegovina. With more flights on its existing service between Luton and Sarajevo, as well as the launch of operations between Rome and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital, capacity is set to grow 183.3%, with an additional 22.908 seats. On the other hand, available capacity on its Tuzla operations will be reduced by 3.6% during the fourth quarter with 1.812 fewer seats. Changes for the abovementioned remain possible, as the budget carrier continues to tweak its schedule based on aircraft availability. At this point, markets in which Wizz Air will have fewer seats in Q4 of this year compared to Q4 2023 are: Luxembourg (complete withdrawal), Bulgaria, Norway, Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Sweden, Lithuania, Iceland, Poland, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Latvia, and Malta, in addition to the abovementioned former Yugoslav markets.
That's a lot. Not good
ReplyDeleteLet's hope summer 2025 will be better.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the P&W GTF engine situation won't be resolved until at least summer '26
DeleteYes, but there will be fewer aircraft undergoing checks next summer. They are ending wet leases this winter.
DeleteOuch!
ReplyDeleteOuch indeed 😬
Delete46% reduced for LJU, 58% for Niš and 28% in Belgrade. Those hurt
DeleteSKP is badly affected as well.
Delete"markets in which Wizz Air will have fewer seats in Q4 of this year compared to Q4 2023 are: Luxembourg (complete withdrawal), Bulgaria, Norway, Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Sweden, Lithuania, Iceland, Poland, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Latvia, and Malta, in addition to the abovementioned former Yugoslav markets."
ReplyDeleteA self proclaimed analyst said only Serbia was impacted.
Still,there is the biggest seats cut in BEG, by numbers and percentage,even in ex yu
DeleteBut far from the trith that it is the only one.
DeleteYou do realise you can just ignore the "self-proclaimed analyst"? People post about him here every day.
DeleteOFC no Hungary
Delete@anon 11:25
DeleteI think aviation enthusiasts are just frustrated by the exposure the abovementioned person is getting in mainstream circles despite no actual experience in the industry and a constant stream of "analyses" and statements that are wildly inaccurate at best and malicious at worst.
+100
Delete@Vlad
DeleteThat’s exactly because he is not ignored, as he should be.
@anon at 11:43 No Hungary?? They will close one of their Hungarian bases (Debrecen) in October. And Ryanair is beating them big time in Budapest too.
DeleteHave those seats been put off sale already or are they expected to go off sale?
ReplyDeleteThey were never put on sale.
DeleteWithout subsidies LJU would have nothing.
ReplyDeleteTf are you talking about, and not to mention that wizz didn’t receive any of them…
DeleteBut yes I do agree we are still in deep trouble without national carrier/base in lju
DeleteThey got them from Macedonia. Without they wouldn't fly. They ended LTN/CRL-LJU in last two years I believe.
DeleteThat is very bad news for BEG and SKP airports. It will greatly affect their total pax numbers for the year.
ReplyDeleteIt's good news for Air Serbia!
DeleteWill BEG reach 8.5 million passengers with these cuts?
DeleteIt will overpass 9mil, no worries
Delete@10:40
DeleteTo surpass 9 million pax for the year BEG traffic needs to grow by 13%.
In June it grew by only 4.5%.
This needs to be reversed for the 2nd half and have again growth of 13%.
Hopefully JU will increase capacity greatly during the 3rd and 4rth quarters to also compensate for W6 cuts.
How is it good news for Air Serbia. It cannot fly all the people that Wizz was suppose to fly. Only losers here are the passengers who now have to pay more for the fewer seats available.
DeleteYou just proved this is good news for Air Serbia.
DeleteI don’t understand what I have proven. This is economics 101.
DeleteAir Serbia competes directly with Wizz on many routes. It will take over some of the Wizz passengers and charge them more in the process. This is very good for Air Serbia.
DeleteIt is definitely good news for JU, but probably not so good for BEG, as JU will not be able to take over all W6 pax.
DeleteMore flights but capacity drop for BEG means that A321s are not coming back yet?
ReplyDeleteRead the article again. There are more flights in September and October. Q4 is October, November and December.
DeleteWinter is coming!
ReplyDeleteIs it yet known which destinations will be affected?
ReplyDeleteAll you can fly and this equal dosta ste ljeteli za dzabe.
ReplyDeleteAt least this time, Bosnia and Herzegovina is not affected. 🇧🇦
ReplyDeleteBecause they're not flying there.
DeleteLete!
DeleteAnonymous 12:57 haj ne ordinary boga ti
DeleteAnonymous 12:57 Have you read the article?
DeleteThe only market in the former Yugoslavia where Wizz Air will buck the trend is Bosnia and Herzegovina. With more flights on its existing service between Luton and Sarajevo, as well as the launch of operations between Rome and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital, capacity is set to grow 183.3%, with an additional 22.908 seats. On the other hand, available capacity on its Tuzla operations will be reduced by 3.6% during the fourth quarter with 1.812 fewer seats.
DeleteQuite a lot of capacity removed. However, I am certain things will change in 2025.
ReplyDeleteIt is still likely there will be some changes. Wizz Air is now modifying schedules just a month prior. So like they did this September and October from BEG (from which they will operate more flights than they did last year during these two months) it is highly likely more changes could occur.
ReplyDeleteYes just a few weeks ago they modified the schedule for SKP, some routes will continue to operate more times per week until 17 November with 5 planes, after that they will be reduced, which is three weeks later then planned on October 27th.
DeleteSure, they will update schedule as they receive new planes in service. And they expect new ones every week
DeleteInterestingly Ryanair has not taken up the opportunity in any of these markets where Wizz has been cutting capacity because of engine problems.
ReplyDeleteRyanair has no capacity to put anywhere
DeleteExactly. Ryanair's growth is hindered by delayed 737 MAX orders
DeleteThey're going the same route path as Malev, I wouldn't be surprised if they go bankrupt at the end of this year
ReplyDeleteDon't hold your breath buddy.
DeleteSkopje is coming to see you down, every report that is coming, the result was worse.
ReplyDelete"All You Can Not Fly" :D
ReplyDeleteSo much about the big upturn in 2025. It will continue to go down and down. Share price is at 12 pounds (from 55).
ReplyDeleteVery bad for ini. Only 2 destinations left.
ReplyDeleteSorry not sorry
ReplyDeleteWizz je pukotina koja tumara u mraku 🤔
ReplyDeleteWhat about BNX?
ReplyDeleteI used to be a strong supporter of Wizz Air, often praising their commitment to affordable travel for regular people.
ReplyDeleteHowever, their recent decisions to drastically reduce flights at Tuzla Airport in Bosnia, particularly the abrupt cancellation of the Berlin-Tuzla route, have left me deeply disappointed.
This move has stranded passengers without viable alternatives and has made me rethink my view of Wizz Air as a reliable airline.
It’s disheartening to see them pull back from a region that has depended on these connections.
So many aviation experts
ReplyDelete