Wizz Air will grow capacity on most markets in the former Yugoslavia for the duration of the coming 2024/25 winter season despite ongoing fleet issues caused by the grounding of aircraft for Pratt & Whitney engine inspections. During the coming winter, which runs from October 27 until March 29, 2025, Wizz Air will operate 9.946 flights to and from former Yugoslav markets. The low cost carrier will reduce its operations by 7.3% while it has 1.922.568 seats for sale, down 13.9% on the previous winter. The reduction is being almost entirely generated by Wizz Air’s two largest markets in the former Yugoslavia - Macedonia and Serbia. The growth on other markets is primarily the result of increased frequencies on existing routes, or the use of larger capacity aircraft. So far, the airline has scheduled just one new route from the region this winter, between Rome Fiumicino and Sarajevo, launching October 29.
This winter, Wizz Air will have 171.108 fewer seats on its Skopje flights, reducing capacity by 20.1%, while Ohrid will see a decline of 16.7% or 11.826 fewer seats. In Belgrade, Wizz Air will cut its overall capacity during the winter season by 19.3%, wiping out 146.112 seats from the market, while in Niš it will have 51.024 fewer seats or a 56.3% reduction on the 2023/24 winter. In Ljubljana, with one route less than the previous winter, the carrier will have 38.6% less capacity on the Slovenian market or 14.962 fewer seats. The only other city in the former Yugoslavia where Wizz Air will reduce its operations is Banja Luka, with a modest decline of 2.4% in available capacity or 1.082 fewer seats.
On the other hand, Wizz Air will add the most seats in Sarajevo. With more flights on its existing Luton service, as well as the launch of operations between Rome and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital, capacity is set to grow 242.5%, with an additional 52.120 seats. Tuzla also returns to growth, with extra frequencies on the carrier’s network from the city resulting in an 18.4% capacity increase or 14.334 additional seats. Over in Podgorica, an extra 13.088 seats will be added for an increase of 16%. Finally, the budget airline will see modest growth on its Pristina operations, with an additional 4.022 seats on the previous winter season, or an increase of 1.7%.
In 2025, Wizz Air anticipates for 35 aircraft to be grounded for engine inspections, 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. “Pratt & Whitney is a cycle that we have to go through. It’s probably bottomed out and it will improve. It will continue to drag over the next few years. We want to overlook this issue and put the fundamentals in place in terms of staffing and the infrastructure to grow in the future. What we learn from managing the business is what really matters is your ability to adapt”, Wizz Air’s CEO, Jozsef Varadi, said last week.
Bravo Fraport!
ReplyDeleteHopefully they return Luton when the engine issues subside. It had good LF year round and Skopje is performing incredibly well
DeleteThey are adding capacity to LTN. Hopefully they will expand in our region instead of just increasing flights to EU Mediterranean destinations and Albania.
DeleteWhat does fraport has to do with this? It’s not their fault, P&W screewed up
DeleteIt seems P&W didn't screw it in SJJ.
DeleteCould it be that P&W has issues in BEG? 😃
DeleteBecause SJJ is pouring a lot of money into attracting carriers, something LJU isn't. That's partially Fraport's fault as well
DeleteSJJ growth of 200%+ is purely because they barely fly to Sarajevo. So 1 new route on a very small base number results in this growth also should be mentioned that this new route from FCO is being directly subsidised.
DeleteWell, we all witnessed FR cuts in Germany so they will have a lot of extra capacity on their hands. LJU could arrange for FR to launch a route or two, at least on a summer seasonal basis.
DeleteSomething LJU-CHQ among other things could work.
Percentages aside, it's an additional 52.120 seats in SJJ.
DeleteProblem is that Ryanair and Fraport have a long standing feud. FR discontinued all Frankfurt flights and LJU is likewise avoiding Ryanair
DeleteNo no no, only conspiracies. Fraport loves Ryanair!
DeleteFraport loves making money. If FR can make them money then they will work with them. Just take a look at CHQ in Greece. It's run by Fraport and Ryanair has a large presence there.
DeleteMaybe ZAG doesn't want FR growing in LJU.
@10:17 What nonsense is this? You realise Fraport is not = Frankfurt Airport?
DeleteFraport operates FRA. What are you smoking?
DeleteWell done Sarajevo!
ReplyDeleteIt really makes you wonder what kind of fools are in charge of BEG. So Wizz Air cuts your market by 20% but ends up growing elsewhere?
ReplyDeleteNo wonder W6 is behaving like this when they know BEG won't do anything. They'll just sit around hoping for a miracle and that someone else will launch flights on their own.
Wizz Air caused troubles in summer and now they are causing troubles in winter. From what I can see Lufthansa does well in Belgrade so maybe it's time for BEG to wake up and to encourage more flights by EW in markets where W6 is stagnating. Then there is also easyJet.
Wizz Air flights out of BEG are recording LF close to 100%. Demand is there but it is being restricted by W6.
Time for BEG management to either wake up or be replaced.
W6 did not stop growing in TIA, LCA, Italy, Romania. It just transferred available capacity there from the exyu.
DeleteWizz Air has less capacity in Cyprus and Romania this winter.
DeleteBecause profit margins at Belgrade are too low. They need to compete with Air Serbia and the airport itself has a pretty small market, all things considered
DeleteWe saw a reaction by JU launching NCE, if they were in position where they had more aircraft, they would absolutely react to W6 reductions.
DeleteSince when are margins in Belgrade low? You are making this claim based on what exactly? Belgrade is inching closer and closer to 9 million passengers per year. That's not insignificant.
DeleteWhy do you complain NEMJEE ? Isn't this a good thing for Air Serbia?
DeleteBelgrade has fewer passengers than airports like TIA while being a hub and spoke network. Moreover it has quite high fees, rarely offers discounts and requires them to lower prices to compete with legacy carriers. For comparison what's the competition in Tirana? They get subsidies, very little competition and more pax. Likewise with Catanai, Bari, etc.
Delete@09:47
Delete"very little competition " in TIA is FR
Anon 09.44
DeleteLack of competition is not a good thing for JU as it would make them lazy. Like this they are forced to remain competitive on the market.
Anon 09.47
It's still too early to judge how successful and sustainable growth at TIA will be. We all remember how everyone was praising SOF when it overtook BEG. Today this is no longer the case. The jury is still out when it comes to Tirana especially since Ryanair cut certain flights this winter. Their network was somewhat trimmed.
BEG might have its faults but at the end of the day it is running a marathon, not a sprint.
profit margins and compete? wizz air is a lcc and air serbia is a flag carrier and full service airline. they shouldn't be in competition. and Wizz charges huge prices out of BEG. over 130 euro while flights from London to Sofia are priced at 50 euro or less.
DeleteThat is why Transavia launching ORY is more of a problem for W6 than it is for JU. BCN in summer is another problematic market as demand was much higher than the offer. JU and W6 either need to increase flights or a third carrier should enter the market.
DeleteIt's a shame Vueling never took BEG seriously, they could fly seasonally to BEG with decent times.
Many don't take BEG seriously, so maybe Wizz's approach to BEG is, although not great, still better than what others offer.
DeleteWell, who exactly is not taking it seriously? For example, we can see that even though AF discontinued flights to BEG, they still got Transavia to launch ORY.
DeleteThis makes sense as they get JU to bring them transfers to CDG while they steal some O&D traffic from Wizz Air. Air France has adapted to new market realities.
Though, with AF no longer selling O&D on JU, it could also be a sign that they are considering returning to BEG. Their A220 would be perfect for such a market. After all, it's the same pattern KLM had in BEG and related to JU.
This is the list out of top 10 European carriers not considering BEG seriously:
Delete1. Ryanair
3. IAG (British, Iberia, Vueling)
6. easyJet (hardly serious)
10. SAS
SAS is not a top 10 carrier
Deleteyes it is. Simple google search is your enemy buddy :)
DeleteWell I found out they are with Google search, a really nice tool. Bear in mind IAG is considered one entity, as stated.
DeleteWell, we can't put easyJet as long as they have a presence in BEG, no matter how symbolic it is.
DeleteIt seems to me that 70% of Europe's top carriers take BEG seriously. How is that a bad thing?
Also, Ryanair would love to fly from BEG but under their own terms. So they take the market seriously but they want to play by their own rules. In reality that leaves us only with BA and SK.
Nemjee, we can discuss what does it mean "not taking seriously" but for me easyJet is in that group. I didn't say they're not prersent at the market. Personally I was expecting them to open the base with Vinci finishing the works at airport (silly me, I know).
DeleteRyainair flies nowhere on their own terms but on the terms agreed with airports. Again, we can disccuss why airports love Ryan's terms but that's really not Ryan's issue. I have no information that they use any kind of force to oblige airports to those terms. They use usual business tactics and the position of most wanted (nota bene: not most loved) LCC among travellers.
Одавно објаснио Н.Ш. зашто београдско тржиште не може издржати три конкурента на већини линија али неки слабо уче.
DeleteJa sam to slušao i kad su bila dva brenda piva na polici, a evo sad ih je 22 i ne fali ništa ni njima ni nama, naprotiv. Konkurencija povećava volumene, posebno na nezadovoljenim tržištima, i tera kompanije da stalno inoviraju. Konkurencija je dobra.
DeleteПоређење марки пива (иза гомиле малопродајних брендова су често само 2-3 велике компаније) са рецимо бројем произвођача широкотрупних путничких авиона или са бројем авио компанија на истој рути на тржишту какво је аеродром Београд показује да неко није слушао на часу. Не вреди, неки никад не науче.
DeleteАпсолутно. Јако мало тржишта у Европи може подржати три играча. Углавном се сведе на два или два успешна и једног који се мучи. Ево и пар примера.
DeleteATH: FR је покушао да се пробије и нису имали превише успеха. Тржиште је у суштини подељено између Aegean и Sky Express. Иако Рајанер и даље нуди летове то није ни принети понуде од пре коју годину. Дакле 2.5 играча на колико путника?
RIX: велика битка између BT, W6 & FR где је на крају Визер покупио ствари и напустио тржиште.
VIE: OS, FR & W6 су остали да се боре иако су се Level и easyJet мање више повукли. Уз све то, OS је хронични губиташ који не успева да обезбеди профит. Дакле 2+1 у Бечу са преко 20 милиона путника.
BUD: подељено тржиште између W6 и FR након што су сахранили Малев.
OTP: FR & W6 гуше и полако али сигурно сахрањују Таром, након што су већ докрајчили Blueair. Дакле и ово знатно веће тржиште од Београда једва одржава два играча на тржишту.
SOF: слична ситуација као и у Букурешту где се локални играч мучи и једва преживљава. Да нема приватног власника са јако дубоким џеповима, давних дана би били на вечним ловиштима.
И сада ви искрено мислите да у Београду има простора за трећег играча? Шта то чини наше тржиште тако посебним да представља ваздухопловну аномалију? Или се надате да ће доћи Рајанер и да ћете летети по Европи за €4.99? Па то сте имали из Ниша па ево видимо који је био епилог те приче.
Цивилно ваздухопловство није јефтина работа. Наравно да ће бити јефтиних карата али у животу постоји баланс. За вашу јефтину неко мора платити скупљу а посебно то мора учинити ако не планирате да се отворите током лета па да купите све и свашта са колица.
Зато сматрам да је комбинације legacy+LCC добитна за Београд. У овом тренутку то су Air Serbia & Wizz Air.
Уколико Wizz Air настави да се дрогира, онда би Београд требало размотрити њихову замену ... али не и коегзистенцију са трећим играчем.
Not good for MKD and SRB.
ReplyDeleteWithout subsidies on the Skopje route, Wizz Air would no longer be flying to Ljubljana.
ReplyDeleteWith load factors above 90% during the winter, I'm pretty sure they'd fly regardless. They need routes strong during the winter to offset summer routes to leisure destinations like LCA and Sicily
DeleteQuite a lot of capacity removed. However, I am certain things will change from summer 2025.
ReplyDeleteIt is still likely there will be some changes. Wizz Air constantly modifies its schedule.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly Ryanair has not taken up the opportunity in any of these markets where Wizz has been cutting capacity because of engine problems.
ReplyDeleteThey don't fly without receiving huge discounts from the airport and state, like they did in ZAG, SJJ, DUB, TIA, ZAD, etc.
DeleteThey have 50% off the taxes in Zagreb, similar to what Wizz enjoys in Belgrade.
Delete^ no they don't. Read the incentive model between Ryanair and Zagreb airport. It is considerable (and published publicaly). They also have to keep constantly adding routes to meet the target for incentives. Belgrade does not give 50% off taxes to Wizz Air. Their incentive model is also public, and unlike in Zagreb, they didn't get an incentive model specifically created for them.
DeleteThere is no incentive model in Zagreb created for Ryanair, it was an open call if you remember. And there is no incentive model in Belgrade for Wizz, it's for anyone above, I think, 900k pax. Let's talk facts. To those entitled Zagreb gives 50% off, Belgrade gives some 6-7 EUR off and up to 80% off for other services, pretty similar cumulatively.
DeleteAgain you are wrong. Zagreb Airport had a specific incentive model created for Ryanair. Yes, it was open to all, no one else applied but it was created for them in cooperation with them. It is separate from the general incentive model the airport has like Belgrade. Under Zagreb's model Ryanair has to keep adding routes to meet targets, again completely separate ftom Zagreb's general incentive mkdel.
Delete@11:51 And how do you know this exactly?
DeleteBecause this is the incentive model Ryanair gets and that only apples to them
Deletehttps://www.zagreb-airport.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/Addendum%20to%20the%20Incentive%20Program.pdf
It is different from the general incentive model all airlines get.
It only applies to them cause no one else, including OU, launched nothing at a time, for the unknown reason that should be studied. It was pushed by Covid, but overall no significant differences in incentive models between BEG and ZAG. Even their financial results are, as a consequence, similar.
DeleteThe incentive model for Ryanair is completely different than Zagreb Airport's general incentive model or Belgrade Airport's incentive model. If it weren't Zagreb would not have launched a special incentive model unrelated to its general incentive model.
DeleteI wouldn't be surprised if they go bankrupt
ReplyDeleteSo much about the upturn in 2025. It will continue to go down and down.
ReplyDeleteHope to see Wizz air back on Base l- Pristna route
ReplyDeleteLet's hope they will return to growth as announced next summer.
ReplyDeleteThey will from SKP since they have probably applied to the Macedonian tender. They only launch new routes from SKP if they are paid.
DeleteAlthough I don't blame Wizz directly for the issue with the engines, this shows that the airports need to attract different carriers and this might be a good opportunity to try attracting other low cost airlines to Skopje
ReplyDeleteHow many aircraft will they have based in SKP and how many in BEG this winter in the end?
ReplyDeleteSKP will have 4 A320s this winter.
DeleteI actually believe that BEG needs Ryanair. Or send them to Batajnica.
ReplyDeletePS: Wizz should be threatened to be moved to Nis or Batajnica.
People thinking it works like that. BEG would have a lot to loose if Wizz Air were to completely withdraw.
DeleteBatajnica? Do you know how much it would cost to put Batajnica into an operational state for commercial airlines. Where are you going to find the staff to handle aircraft there? Where are you going to find the equipment needed to handle aircraft there? Where is the public transport from that airport? Where is the boarder staff for it etc. You think they can just open it tomorrow for Wizz Air. Seriously.
DeleteThis is actually a blessing in disguise for Air Serbia but they're not using it.
DeleteBest way to put pressure on them is to encourage other players to enter the market. Transavia from ORY is a great example.
Delete@09:43
DeleteActually, Batajnica airport is even connected to Belgrade-Novi Sad railroad. There would be no problem whatsoever linking it to both cities.
Would not take much to build a modest terminal building, too.
And frankly, as time goes by and with Tesla airport lacking even serious plans to increase capacity mid-term (while they are nedeed in the short term), it does seam more and more like the only viable solution to keep lowcost in Belgrade region - the other would be "transfering them to Niš", the stupidity already announced from the highest instance.
The only stupidity here are your statements. Nobody has announced "transferring them to Nis". And no, Batajnica can not become a commercial airport over night. On top of everything that is required to be done, it also needs certification from both local and international bodies. Please stop making nonsense up as you go.
DeleteVučić did say something in that direction, that lowcost will be sent to Niš. And, dude, regular traffic did operate from Batajnica, almost 40 years ago, when runway in Surčin was overhauled. And of course the certificate can be obtained, that is no quantum physics.
DeleteLast time Batajnica was used for regulat traffic was in the early 2000s when the runway was being fixed at BEG. It was a mess and passengers were processed in some sort of a tent. BGY is by no means a serious alternative to BEG and I am sure the French would never agree to that.
DeleteDeveloping LCC traffic at INI would put some relief on BEG and it would not require Vinci to rush with yet another round of expansion.
Yes but that would mean decentralization with which BEG figures wouldn't look so astonishing... That's a topic of total national interest, can't be organized only in aviation.
DeleteThe notion about Batajnica from the guy who made up they are transferring LCC to Nis is complete nonsense. The state will want to keep the annual concession fee high at Belgrade which depends on revenues. The less airlines the less revenue. Experts here everywhere. Also do you think Serbia is the richest country in Europe? It has enough money now to develop Batajnica as well? It has enough money for new traffic controllers, new staff, new equipment from tow trucks, de icing etc, more border police. You think someone can just get a magic wand and create all of that. Please stop with the nonsense. Just because you think it is a great idea doesen't replace the fact that it is detached from reality.
DeleteNo one in his right mind will chase LCCs from BEG, it just won't work and it would be political suicide. What they might do is make sure the spillover from BEG is transferred to INI.
DeleteInstead of Wizz boosting BCN from 7 to 9, FR might launch 2 weekly INI-GRO.
Vinci won't mind as BEG is growing as is and there is less and less room for growth. They will either agree to redirect some traffic to INI or they will have to cough up another billion or whatever for terminal expansion.
@10:49 dude
DeleteThere already are English-speaking controllers at Batajnica, that`s no problem at all, neither is anything else You mentioned. I mean... there`s an international airport halfway between Kraljevo and Čačak, right, and it works. The French could be offered to operate that terminal, too.
And no major upgrade at Tesla is currently in sight - they might lack gates within a year or two.
Moreover, what Nemjee wrote:
"Developing LCC traffic at INI would put some relief on BEG and it would not require Vinci to rush with yet another round of expansion".
is precisely the wrong approach to the sitution, as there can be no such relief worth mentioning.
Sorry, I cant take you seriously. Keep living in dreamland. When you grow up things will becoem clearer.
DeleteYeah, fine. Anyone can write three sentences like that, on any issue - and the issue is that gates at BEG will be too few, and BEG is not to be expanded soon (if it wanted, it cannot build planned T3 now, with the railway being built overground). But hey, you`re the boss, and I live in Dreamland. Cheers :)
DeleteYou certainly do live in dreamland and your ideas are childish at best. "There already are English-speaking controllers at Batajnica, that`s no problem at all," this is beyond comment.
DeleteWow, they solved the ATC-issue at KVO? How on Earth did they manage to do so??
DeleteIt must be big biznis.
35 planes down for inspection in 2025!
ReplyDeleteI can predict how this will develop in Serbia - Wizz will get a lot of money to fly more from INI, in return they'll up BEG frequencies to previous levels. Someone up for a bet?
ReplyDeleteI think it will work the other way around. You expand in BEG and then we will give you money to fly from INI. I think EW will have more chances in INI.
DeleteThe state has already signaled they are about to throw some money into INI so if I were Wizz I would wait for that deal, frankly.
DeleteMaybe Ryanair will get it. They seem to be the only one who can maintain some modest presence in INI without subsidies. With some extra cash they could bring back Berlin, Bergamo plus launch BVA and maybe seasonal flights to Greece and Spain (GRO).
DeleteBut Nemjee I'm sure you know that's not the criteria which will be used for the decision.
DeleteCircumstances have changed and with it the criteria. SNS lost Medijana in Nis and they risk losing more municipalities. They need an efficient mechanism to boost popular support. We are talking about political risk management here. There is a reason why INI is receiving all this love, all of a sudden, out of nowhere.
DeleteI know that. I just think the solution will be usual "let's shake the train so the travelers think we're moving"
DeleteWell, I guess time will tell and we won't have to wait for much longer to find out.
DeleteCrazy that they have no presence on Croatian market during winter.
ReplyDeleteThis time next year Wizz will be back to growth for all markets and the majority of these comments will be completely void. People here think that just because one year an airline has slower or no growth it is the end of the world. People suggesting things like they should be "kicked out" of airports, really shows that people know little about aviation. Sarajevo Airport was down in the dumps last year and this year it has record passenger numbers. Zagreb Airport last summer had almost no growth and this year they have record numbers. Just because one year is not performing well does not mean the end of the world and does not mean you sacrifice a long lasting partnership so some people on a forum could be happy with statistics.
ReplyDeleteThis time next year all comments on all topics will be void. We are not commenting on decade long historical operations, but on this actual moment in time. And of course it's not the end of the world, no one is claiming that. Some think (me included) that Wizz thing in BEG is not a long-lasting partnership but a smirky deal that includes BEG, JU, Vinci, and government. But that's still not the end of the world.
DeleteAlthough you are completely right in your observations, I need to tell you that Zagreb Airport grew by 19.2% last year, even though growth in some months during the summer was modest.
DeleteIt is a long lasting partnership because it has been ongoing for 12 years (maybe that's short term for you) and it is Belgrade's second largest airline by both passenger numbers and operations. But some of you think they will be "taught a lesson" if they got "kicked out". Nuts.
DeleteWhat murky deal exactly? They have had a base in Belgrade before Air Serbia existed, before Vinci had a concession over Belgrade and even before the current ruling power came into power. Some of you just have wild imaginations.
DeleteWell if you think a partner is the one who cuts 20% off operations at your place only to add it at a neighbor at the same time, then sure...
Delete@11.06 and I need to tell you that you are comparing apples and oranges. Comparing 2023 to 2022 which was still impacted by Corona is nonsense, like most of your arguments. In summer 2023 Zagreb's growth was below 1%.
DeleteYes, it is a partner. It generates over 20% of your traffic and a huge chunk of your annual revenue. But thank goodness your idea to kick them out to teach them a lesson, open Batajnca airport and whatever other bs you mentioned today isn't being considered.
DeleteIt may generate 100% of traffic and not being a partner, like that Lumiwings in Tuzla, or the very same Wizz there. Partner is not about the size but about the transparent and frank relations, especially in time when things go south like this year. A big buyer - yes, a partner - no.
DeleteThey are indeed a big partner because their ops have a big impact on the airport's financial performance which is the only thing most operators care about.
DeleteOK, if you're using partner as a synonym for buyer, I agree. But for me partner is more an ally than just a buyer.
DeleteI think Wizz Air can afford to treat BEG this way because they know they are too lethargic and indifferent to react and to look for an alternative. They know there is zero chance of BEG striking a deal with FR so they are more focused on airports where that chance is much higher. We shouldn't blame Wizz Air here, they are being realistic. We should blame Vinci and their team in BEG.
DeleteThey are returning to growth in every quarter since 2022. At least according to their press releases. Never mind that it does not happen in real life and won't happen in 2025 either.
ReplyDelete2019: 39.8 million passengers
Delete2022: 45.6 million passengers
2023: 60.3 million passengers
That seems like quite significant growth to me, in contrast with your above statement
Well they terminated many weak routes and moved that capacity to better ones. That could be a reason why they have such growth. Plus they replaced alot of A320 with A321.
Delete@Anon at 21:06 Let me please repeat the title "Wizz Air returning to growth on most Ex-Yu markets". That's what they say since 2022. While in fact they closed Sarajevo base (October 2022), Tuzla base (September 2023), Ljubljana is down to a single route, Skopje still have 4x A320s instead of the previous 5x A321, Nis is down to two routes, no flights at all to/from Zagreb etc. Who cares about their total flight numbers elsewhere?
Delete