Wizz Air to maintain EX-YU growth


Wizz Air plans to further strengthen its presence in the former Yugoslavia in the coming period with additional flights to Skopje and Podgorica, as well potential new services to Mostar. The airline's Chief Commercial Officer, Owain Jones, told EX-YU Aviation News that the former Yugoslavia continues to play an important role in the carrier's network, which, as of this summer, serves every country in the region. However, Mr Jones conceded that the airline's presence in some markets, such as Croatia, remains limited compared to other low cost rivals. He noted that both demand and costs remain an issue in the country, but added that the carrier recently stepped up its presence in Croatia with the introduction of flights to Osijek, which will be served on a year-long basis.

Wizz Air fleet allocation in 2017

Commenting on its future growth plans, Mr Jones said to "Routes Online" recently, "When choosing new routes our network development team consider a lot of factors, but its principally demand. Is there a population there which wants to travel by air? Our home CEE [Central - East Europe] markets are developing rapidly in terms of GDP between 2.5 and 6.5% each year. That obviously translates directly into growing demand for air travel”. He added, "The market gain in CEE is different to Western Europe. Everybody is scrapping it out on the Western routes and they’re trying to steal passengers from other airlines. It’s a very saturated market in terms of capacity and demand. CEE is completely different".

Wizz Air market position compared to other LCCs in key markets

Following its biggest expansion to date within the former Yugoslavia over the summer, Wizz Air plans to increase frequencies on flights from Budapest to Skopje and Podgorica, which were launched just several months ago. Both routes will be served three times per week, instead of the current two, starting October 31. As EX-YU Aviation unofficially learns, the airline will utilise its 230-seat Airbus A321 aircraft on two out of its three weekly flights between the Hungarian and Macedonian capital cities from May 5, 2018, which will represent an almost 20% capacity increase each week. Elsewhere, the airline is said to be in talks with Mostar Airport over the introduction of flights from Sweden, which could potentially launch as early as this winter, however, the airline has made no comment on this matter.

Comments

  1. Anonymous09:03

    I think there is more opportunity for them to grow in Serbia, Bosnia and Eastern Croatia. In Serbia I think they should focus more on Nis and its good to see they are looking at Mostar. I think Osijek market is very similar to their core ex-yu markets and that is diaspora traffic, something they would now see on flights to Dubrovnik.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:10

      What about Ljubljana and Podgorica? I think both have massive potential when it comes to Wizz.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:13

      Podgorica especially. It is underserved and they should try to expand their quickly with Ryanair already in TGD. Also I think they could serve Tivat similarly to the way they do Ohrid.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:19

      LJU is more likely to get Ryanair with the new terminal building being built and Fraport making deals with FR.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:21

      Hope so but new terminal won't be finished until 2020. Hope they make a deal with them sooner than that.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:05

    Wait are they saying there is a demand issue with Croatia? Are they out of their minds?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:17

      Doesn't make much sense at all.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:24

      Ahahaha yes. No demand while the others are celebrating. No problems for Easy out of Split, but Wuzz finds it expensive and with no demand. 😊

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:27

      I think they are just trying to find an excuse. But they do fly to Split from Poland and they added Krakow this year too.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:33

      They fly to Osijek also. So they have 4 routes (3 from Split and 1 from Osijek). More than they have from Slovenia, from Montenegro or from Kosovo.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous09:36

      Yes but compare that with Ryan or easy.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous09:46

      Will we ever see Wizz Air at Zagreb Airport again?

      Delete
    7. Anonymous09:51

      Doubt it fees are too high

      Delete
    8. Anonymous09:55

      Wizz did approach ZAG last year. The terms they set were so bad that ZAG rejected them. I don't think we will see them there any time soon.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:01

      I think Zagreb will need to attract a low cost airline to base a plane to become a real hub.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous11:48

      Basing a low cost plane to become hub? Point to point flights that most lcc use are not definition of hub airport. What ZAG needs is strong OU, which means they need that investor so badly, which would make a hub. And then bring lcc that will cater for leisure travel and city break pax.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous12:37

      The equation for Wizz is quite easy. They know that they can stimulate the market only if fares are very low. For that the taxes must be low to non-existent, as they can then get the rest in their pockets. This is how they can make money. If Eurowings charges 69€ out of ZAG, they earn the same like Wizz does with a 19,99 out of INI for example. If they offer higher fares out out more expensive airports, they won´t be able to stimulate enough.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:07

    With Wizz getting rid of the ridiculous hand luggage charge it will hurt our 'esteemed' national airlines even more. I know a lot of people who skipped flying Wizz just because of that stupid charge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:24

      Same. Thank god they are getting rid of it.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous09:08

    I'm wondering where else they can expand from Macedonia. Can they introduce flight to another airport in UK? Also I think another airport in Italy might workout good for them and last, Madrid 2X weekly initially. Not sure how are the agreements between Macedonia and Israel, but 2X to Israel might be under consideration as well, since they aggressively expand in Israel.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:19

      Israel is a problem bilaterally but I think all the destinations you listed could work. They should also work on adding frequencies to SKP from several destinations.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:27

      Primari in the future on the list must be Burmingam/Liverpool!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:32

      Is there so much demand between Macedonia and the UK?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:34

      @anon 9:32

      I have no data to back this up but anecdotally I know a lot of Macedonian citizens who live outside of the London region (Glasgow, Manchester). The problem I think is that there is no substantial concentration of Macedonian citizens apart from nearby London that would create demand for another UK destination.

      My view would be a better connected London airport would be best (although I think Luton is the cheapest to fly to for Wizz :P)

      Delete
    5. Anonymous18:26

      Speaking of Madrid, it's a wonder why the entire Iberian peninsula and Ex-YU have very few direct flights between each other

      Delete
  5. Anonymous09:09

    loukosteri unistavaju vazduhoplovstvo-zapamtite !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:17

      I omogucili hiljadama ljudi da lete.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:18

      Why is that so? Because people can finally travel without spending hundreds of EUR for a simple airplane ticket?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous09:19

      Vazduhoplovstvo na sreću ne ali avio biznis sigurno.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous09:28

      They have made air travel accessible to many people.

      Delete
    5. kakav crno uništavanje aviobiznisa, vazduhoplovstva... lcs su možda i najbolja stvar koja se desila avioindustriji.
      ovo je transportni biznis, a ne biznis luksuza, skupih karata i visokih plata za zaposlene. ovde je cilj da prevezeš ljude od tačke A do tačke B sigurno, vremenski tačno i sa količinom komfora koju klijent želi da sebi priušti.

      cene karata su nekada bile astronomske i relativno mali broj ljudi je to mogao sebi da priušti (neka studija kaže da je negde 70's samo 15% stanovništva USA moglo da priušti sebi te cene karata).

      lcs su to izmenili, sada može svako da leti i da brzo stigne gde želi i da sebi priušti bolji odmor npr. narudžbine aviona su sve veće, avioni su sve bolji, letovi sve sigurniji i sve je više ljudi uposleno u avioindustriji i vezanim granama.

      ovaj razvoj ima downsidea, kao npr velike potrebe za pilotima, pa se onda u indiji i kini zanemaruje kvalitet obuke, ali to je zato što se ne prate pravila i pre su izuzetci.

      vreme glamura tog poziva, udobnih fotelja u kabini, prevelikih plata pilota i privilegije putovanja je davno prošlo.

      get real!
      transportni biznis. od tačke a do tačke b. sigurno, tačno i sa razumnom dozom komfora koju klijent odabere za sebe.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:33

      +1 Petar

      Delete
  6. Anonymous09:19

    Serbia: Wizz, Pegasus, RYANAIR??

    How come runner has more passengers than flydubai???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:20

      Because it flies to 5 destinations from Nis and has 10 weekly return flights (if not more). Soon they start their 6th destination.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:34

      Pegasus flies one destination too...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:29

      Flydubai will probably overtake Ryanair or at least will be very close when they start flying everyday.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous09:22

    LJU is also getting A321 from London from September.

    I never understood why they have never expanded from LJU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:41

      Expensive fees at LJU.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:12

      They could always come here to Maribor

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:26

      They can't because Maribor will be congested with 15 A330's, LCCs cannot have a quick turnaround there.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous11:32

      hahaha :D

      Delete
    5. Anonymous11:47

      At least they are increasing capacity to LJU which is a positive development.

      Delete
    6. I would love if they would open base at LJU, I want to become cabin crew oneday.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous09:31

    All of you are also forgetting the potential Pristina has for them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:37

      Pristina is a problem because of visas.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous09:45

      But the diaspora traffic is huge, even more than some other other ex-Yu countries, especially from western Europe.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:06

      They will do bad to their bases in SKP and INI if they open base in PRN. Both INI and SKP are on a driving distance from PRN.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous09:32

    They have a more impressive network from ex-Yu then some national airlines.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous09:40

    And Sarajevo still nothing :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:48

      Maybe they feel there wouldn't be demand. Look at what Eurowings said about their suspended DUS flights - "The Lufthansa subsidiary confirmed to EX-YU Aviation News it was shelving the planned flights, adding, "As we check the economic efficiency of the flights constantly, we reserve the right to change our flight plan".

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:03

      In other words ticket sales were poor. The success of Tuzla has obviously had its affect on SJJ.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:11

      You have Sarajevo-Budapest.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:24

      I don't really include that. It's a subsidised route by the Hungarian government with 2 weekly flights.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:27

      Shame about SJJ. They wanted to start a few destinations but talks fell apart :/ I still hope they manage to find some agreement with them.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous09:40

    Ljubljana-Liverpool would be very welcome.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous09:47

    It will be interesting to compare Wizz passenger numbers in Belgrade and Tuzla this summer and see who came out on top since they will have the same number of flights.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous09:50

    Really big expansion in ex-YU this year. My money is that the next base they open will be PRN.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:01

      They have more flights from Nis and Podgorica then from Pristina.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous10:00

    How long can they ignore Croatia?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:12

      What's interesting is that they mentined both costs and passenger demand, I guess winter makes expansion there highly unattractive

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:44

      Demand in Croatia? There is certrainly demand also in winter. How can Croatia be too expensive when all major LCCs fly there.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:11

      Neither Ryanair or easyjet fly to Croatia during the winter.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:56

      Norwegian, Vueling and Eurowings/German wings flying during the winter as well to ZAG,SPU and DBV

      Delete
    5. Anonymous16:39

      And starting this winter Eurowings to Rijeka too from Koeln

      Delete
    6. Julia20:15

      Would be good to see more flights from UK to RJK. Tourists won't fly 2 hours then a 3 hours or more transfer as in ZAG to RAB or PUY to Malo Losinj. What is the problem with RJK that they rarely attract new flights?

      Delete
  15. Anonymous10:07

    Four planes in SKP is amazing when you look at how many bigger markets have fewer planes based.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous10:11

    Last year they announced their expansion for the next year in Belgrade and Tuzla in August. Maybe next month we get a surprise :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:20

      Would be nice but I doubt we will see another plane based in either BEG or TZL that soon after they based their second plane in each city.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:57

      I wasn't saying that it has to necessarily be BEG or TZL.

      Delete
  17. Anonymous10:28

    Why hasn't any LCC started donestic flights in Croatia. There must be potential for ZAG-DBV and ZAG-SPU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:34

      OU has that covered

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:37

      Yes, with crazy expensive fares.

      Delete
    3. I payed 180kn (around $30) Split - Zagreb in July. How is that expensive?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:29

      Actually OU has LowCost fare within Croatia. They offer OW fares starting from 180Kn = 25 EUR including baggage. What is expensive here? On full flights they will of course have higher fares.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous18:50

      @Q400July 24, 2017 at 12:02 PM

      That's nothing, even bus is more expensive.

      I flew from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, return, 480kn, and I thought that was cheap. Your ticket is like what I spent on a meal.

      Delete
  18. Anonymous10:32

    What I would give to see them start flying from Banja Luka.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:40

      If it wasn't for corrupt politicians they would have been flying there before Tuzla even.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:52

      They wanted to start flights to BNX but BNX didn't want them.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:01

      Yup, retarded. Agree 100%.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous10:41

    I think the next thing they will do is base a plane in Niš or at least open new routes.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous10:44

    Skopje now has very long list of routes provided by Wizz. Which destinations could work from SKP which are currently not served but Wizz operates from other ex-Yu airports? Do you think 2x weekly to Baden-Baden or Warsaw could work?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:52

      Warsaw-Ohrid seasonal would actually work.

      I think LOT may start Warsaw-Skopje soon.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:36

      yearlong: Frankfurt (daily), Prag (4x), Athens (3x), Warshaw (2x), Madrid (2x), Lyon (2x), Liverpool (2x)

      seasonal: Split (4x), Varna (3x), Lissabon (2x), Larnaca (2x) and Poprad/Tatry (winther 2x)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:25

      11:36 +1 for your orthography skills, amazing.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous12:35

      Better than the ASL website

      "Salonika, and Sophia"

      "Nikola Tesla Aeroport, Belgrade"

      Delete
    5. Anonymous12:58

      Lol Sophia :D

      Delete
  21. Anonymous10:57

    Except for Spain, what other routes are really left for them to add from BEG?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous11:18

    It's surprising that they are flying LTN to SKP, BEG, TZL and PRN even though all need visas to enter the UK.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:26

      There is diaspora travel and it is not so difficult to get a visa.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous11:33

      Yes but the visa is expensive. More expensive than your plane ticket with Wizz actually.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous11:41

      It is mostly for those working in the UK who do not need visas to travel

      Delete
  23. Anonymous11:21

    Still no new flights announced by them for next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:41

      They will probably launch more routes t Osijek.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous11:41

    Great news for Mostar. I assume Malmo or Stockholm?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:46

      Good times ahead for Mostare. They will get both Eurowings and Wizz Air.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:23

      Won't that impact on their Tuzla performance?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:25

      No, but it will take away some passengers from Dubrovnik.

      Delete
    4. Split may be affected more than Dubrovnik as it is closer and covers much of the same market.

      Delete
  25. Anonymous12:04

    They will base a third plane in BEG next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:21

      Source?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:31

      I highly doubt that.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:57

      @12.21: his crystal ball.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous14:03

      I wonder what other routes they might introduce from BEG... it will be interesting what destination becomes the first to be served daily.

      Delete
  26. Anonymous12:26

    Pristina needs Wizz to Bratislava, Eindhoven. Plenty of immigrants there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:14

      There is a lot of potential from PRN. But from what I hear fees are still a problem there.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous13:15

    Is Wizz the first airline that serves every single country in EX-Yu?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:32

      Yes

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:48

      Air Serbia serves all UN recognised countries in ex-YU.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:54

      Turkish as well

      Delete
  28. Anonymous13:31

    The real question is will they maintain the huge growth they had this year in ex-yu next year as well.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous13:41

    Wizz struggles with huge overcapacity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:18

      +1

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:17

      This year I've been on 4 flights with W6 out of SKP, the load factor was between 95% and 100%.

      Destinations: Paris, Barcelona, Berlin and Copenhagen.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous23:13

      LF with LCC airlines doesn't neccessarily equal profit.

      Delete
  30. Anonymous14:31

    So by 2020:
    MK - 6
    SR - 4
    HR - 3
    BiH - 5
    SLO - 1
    BG - 10
    RO - 25
    HU - 15

    Very likely routes:
    SKP-DWC
    SKP-BHX
    BEG-SXF
    BEG-TLV
    BEG-MAD
    LJU-BCN
    LJU-LPL
    SJJ-CRL
    SJJ-LTN
    ZAG-CRL
    ZAG-BCN
    SOF-LYS
    SOF-IEV
    PRN-SXF
    PRN-HHN
    OTP-OPO
    OTP-AGA

    There are much more destinations that you can possibly imagine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous14:47

      and you travelled in the future so you know this

      Delete
    2. Anonymous15:47

      I think that SKP-SOF can work perfectly.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous17:05

      Yes, but both capitals are way too close. Would be hard to fill a 180 seat a/c.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:26

      BEG-SXF /very likely 75+%
      BEG-TLV / 50:50 chances
      BEG-MAD / 50-75% chances

      Delete
    5. Anonymous23:20

      It's a 4 hours drive. Wouldn't say very close.

      Delete
  31. Anonymous15:19

    I'm wondering if they'll start attacking the regional routes, such as SKP - BEG or BEG - TGD. Not sure if they can do that if the countries have some restrictive agreements.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:38

      That would be a saviour. Prices on these intra ex-yu routes are beyond normal.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:14

      They will never fly these routes because airport taxes are extremely high and there are no secondary airports in MNE

      Delete
  32. Anonymous16:11

    Broj letova za samo jedno letovalište, Hurgadu, veći je nego čitavu Italiju ili Španiju.

    Toliko o potrebama za Barselonom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:48

      Egipat je odavno tradicionalno letovaliste Srba, Barselona je postala popularna tek nakon 2004-2005.

      Delete
  33. Anonymous16:13

    Could TLV work from BEG? I doubt that there is more demand for Košice from TLV than to Belgrade..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:45

      It can't. Bilateral between Israel and Serbia allows only Israeli and Serbian registered airlines to fly this route. Plus there are already 3 airlines flying between the two.

      Delete
  34. Anonymous16:41

    OT: Qatar in Zagreb is now double daily also in September and October. Just saw that in the booking system!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:43

      That's not news. It was published here weeks ago that the double daily flight would be extended throughout the summer.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:57

      News is that it is implemented.many things are announced, not all happen.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous20:41

      yesterday they were not in the Qatar booking system

      Delete
  35. Anonymous16:47

    With so many aircraft on order I have no doubt they will continue growing from ex-yu.

    Plus there is this from the article.

    "Our home CEE [Central - East Europe] markets are developing rapidly in terms of GDP between 2.5 and 6.5% each year. That obviously translates directly into growing demand for air travel".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:04

      How many do they have on order?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17:17

      138.

      Delete
  36. Anonymous17:09

    Wonder why they didn't list their position in either Croatia or Slovenia ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous23:14

      No bases in either country.

      Delete
  37. Anonymous17:21

    Croatia Airlines will introduce hand luggage fares only. Adria already does it, Air Serbia does it on some routes. This is the result of Wizz Air and other LCCs penetrating the market.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous17:48

      This is a result of a changing trend in the whole airline industry. Ex-yu airlines are just slowly follow the trend.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous18:14

      When will they introduce those fares?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous18:29

      Starting with 27th of July

      Delete
    4. Anonymous23:15

      Finally airlines are starting to see you need to offer a modular product. A 25-year old going for a weekend trip doesn't need airport check-in and a ton of checked baggage.

      Delete
  38. Anonymous20:08

    OT - now from CAPA, an analysis of Croatia Airlines.

    https://centreforaviation.com/insights/analysis/croatia-airlines-zagreb-hub-strength-but-growing-lcc-competition--high-cask-a-challenge-357542

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous23:32

    OT - JFL
    http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByFlight.do?id=927674558&airline=UA&flightNumber=1826&departureDate=2017-07-24

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lol.... How does anyone find that??

      Delete

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