Business 26 January 2026, 3:13pm

Portfolio

This is not the first time that the discount airline has tried to obtain a US licence. In 2022, the Ministry rejected the application from the Hungarian parent company on safety grounds.

The US expansion signals a significant change in strategy.

In 2024, CEO József Váradi definitively dismissed the prospect of launching transatlantic flights. At that time, Wizz Air introduced the new long-range narrow-body Airbus A321 XLR aircraft in Saudi Arabia and announced plans to increase its presence in the Middle East via its Abu Dhabi hub.

Last year, Wizz Air finally closed its Abu Dhabi operations to cut costs, announcing that it would once again focus on the Central and Eastern European market. The company has been plagued by maintenance problems with Pratt & Whitney engines since 2023, forcing it to ground part of its fleet.

In November, Wizz Air "tested" the transatlantic route with an A321 XLR aircraft when it flew Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from Budapest to Washington. (It landed in Reykjavik to refuel, though.)

However, North Atlantic routes present a significant challenge to airlines. Last year, British Airways' parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), reported weakening demand as a result of Donald Trump's customs and immigration policies. Aer Lingus, based in Ireland, recently suspended ticket sales for certain long-haul destinations from its Manchester base, including New York.

Cover photo: Portfolio