Wizz Air has said that Zagreb and Ljubljana still do not meet the requirements for the establishment of a base. The comments were made during an internal Q&A session between management and staff, during which employees were able to ask questions about the airline’s operations. Wizz Air said it "maintains ongoing discussions" with both airports but noted that airport-related costs remain the primary obstacle to basing aircraft in either city, as they would undermine the commercial viability of such an operation. The airline added that it continues to explore opportunities in both markets. While Wizz Air currently operates two routes from Ljubljana, it has not served Zagreb for more than a decade. The remarks do not rule out the launch of flights to the Croatian capital but indicate that the establishment of a base there is not currently under consideration.
There has been growing speculation that the carrier could launch services to Zagreb under the airport’s new incentive scheme. Wizz Air has significantly expanded its presence in Croatia this year, adding more than a dozen new seasonal routes to Dubrovnik, Zadar and Rijeka. Among low cost carriers in the Croatian market this summer, it ranks behind Ryanair, easyJet and Eurowings by available seat capacity but has overtaken Jet2, Volotea, Vueling and Norwegian Air Shuttle after adding more than 100.000 seats this season.
At the same time, Wizz Air has described the potential of the Slovenian market as "significant", saying demand extends well beyond the current level of air connectivity. "If conditions were improved, especially access costs at the capital airport, there is huge potential for Slovenia. We are following it with interest, but there must be an effort made to break through that situation, and that would be very helpful and beneficial for Slovenia," the carrier recently said.
Wizz Air is currently Europe’s fastest growing airline. The growth surge has been triggered by the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine crisis. At one stage Wizz had sixty GTF-powered Airbus A320neo family aircraft grounded. This has since dropped to around 24, and should narrow to 15 - 20 by late March 2027, with no grounded aircraft by the end of next year. To make up for lost capacity, Wizz extended A320ceo family leases to 2028 - 2029, but grounded neos are now returning alongside new deliveries, adding more seats to the mix. In September 2025, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi suspended operations, which freed up aircraft, including A321XLRs slated for longer Abu Dhabi sectors.
Commenting on the growth and strategy going forward, Wizz Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ian Malin, recently said, "The 30% growth [in 2026] was not planned. Eighteen months from now, we have a much more digestible profile”. This will be low- to mid-teens seat/ASK growth. But, first, Wizz needs to consume the meal on the table. During this high-growth period, it will mean focusing on mature European markets rather than adding riskier "frontier" routes. "Going into all these speculative markets, where the maturity curve is longer, isn’t going to work when you’re deploying 30% capacity [growth]", Mr Malin said. Wizz’s strategic focus, in the CCO’s words, is to put meat over the bones. This means stabilising the network with denser frequencies, making it more defensible and resilient, to keep costs down.
Ljubljana has been hearing the same story for years. Everyone knows airport charges are the problem, yet nothing changes.
ReplyDeleteBravo Fraport, I guess.
DeleteI wouldn't be surprised if Wizz eventually opens a Zagreb base if the incentives are attractive enough. Ten years ago people also said Ryanair would never come.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if the ZAG base depends on what happens in BEG. If they have to close the base there, they will have to relocate those 4 aircraft somewhere.
DeleteEventually is a long time
DeleteThe fact that discussions are still ongoing means the door isn't closed.
DeleteThe incentive scheme in Zagreb was designed exactly for airlines like Wizz. Maybe they just need more time to evaluate it.
DeleteEventually, maybe, one day
DeleteI suspect we'll see more aircraft going into Poland, Romania and Italy instead of new Balkan bases over the next couple of years.
DeleteNo base doesn't mean no expansion. Wizz has proved that in Dubrovnik and Zadar this summer.
DeleteThe real issue is that Wizz currently has plenty of opportunities elsewhere where they can earn higher returns with less risk.
ReplyDeleteTrue dat.
DeleteThe comments from Malin are interesting. Basically the strong growth will end this year and we will see consolidation in 2027.
ReplyDeleteTrue, but it is logical that this rate of growth can't continue forever.
DeleteGrowing 30% annually isn't sustainable forever.
Deleteand its 30% only because of the engine issues
DeleteEven lower prices and discounts won't do it. Seems like you have to pay them to get wizz to fly out an airport
ReplyDeleteyesh im pretty sure MAD and VLC are so desperate to "pay them". sone people here...
DeleteNo need to be facetious...
Delete"paying to fly" is one of the most senseless phrases to read here. It can only be applied for PSO flights. No incentives or discounts or subventions are so high to persuade a foreign airline to fly a route just because an airport or gov. wants it
DeleteWell they certainly get money out of desperate small airports...
DeleteDesperate small airports? what does that even mean dude?
DeletePola, Rijeka, Osijek, Nis, Tuzla, Skopje, Banja Luka, Maribor,
Delete@11:41 okay...
DeleteSkopje in the same list as Osijek, Nis, Rijeka...and Maribor?? Haha!
Deletethis list makes as much sense as your "pay for fly" statement above
Agree about SKP. It's way ahead of the airports listed. Mostar, Brač or Ohrid should have been listed instead
DeleteSKP is forth largest by passinger numbers in ex-YU. And narrowing in on PRN and even ZAG. It may never equal them, but these are the BIG FOUR. The difference between SKP and fifth o.e are enourmous.
Delete@20:53 I think the person's comment at the start was regarding airports having to pay or 'subsidise' airlines to fly to them. Whilst Skopje does this in abundance, it has proven to be extremely good at stimulating connectivity. So the conclusion should be that whilst many airports have to provide help, only some are actually good at achieving results which is clearly the case in Skopje's case.
Delete''Big four'' lol. I thought we were talking about football at first. Not to mention the difference between BEG and the second which is even more enourmous.
DeleteIsn't Skopje number 5?
DeleteI was unaware that they still have so many aircraft grounded.
ReplyDeleteIf Zagreb is too expensive, how does Ryanair continue expanding there? They must have negotiated much better terms.
ReplyDeleteThey actually haven't expanded in a year. The new Warsaw Modlin route that is coming is just a replacement for Thessaloniki which is ending.
DeleteEvery airline says airport charges are too high
DeleteI think Wizz has missed the boat in Croatia. Ryanair has established itself in Zagreb while easyJet and others dominate the coast.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThe market is dynamic and it can change in a year or two. No one missed the boat to nowhere in European aviation.
DeleteVery true. Airlines rise and fall as will wizzair one day.
DeleteFraport should pay attention. Every year airlines mention airport costs.
ReplyDeleteWhat else will they bash?
DeleteLack of proactivity.
DeleteAnd why did they not bash that? Why is it that basically the only two LCCs in Europe are going "charges to high" while Easyjet is expanding their routes to LJU?
DeleteEasyjet connects Ljubljana with four British airports to serve tourists visiting Slovenia which is a relatively up-market tourist destination. The cost of operating into Ljubljana is there not such an issue given the overall revenue made per flight. When people start talking about fantasy routes for Ryanair or Wizzair to places like Tirana and the like, the cost really does factor highly.
DeletePersonally If Ryanair don't think they can make Stansted-Ljubljana work I can't seem the entering the market anytime soon.
Wizzair's cautious approach utilising Skopje and Podgorica's incentives programs to help offset the low yields of these kinds of VFR routes is a clever one.
I'm sure Ryanair sees more demand from STN to SJJ, TGD, OSI... than LJU.
Delete@18:14 Well the fact that they fly there means in basic terms they see those fine cities as part of their network. So whilst your point is clearly factious, in simple terms they see they can make money on those routes indeed.
DeleteSure, all those airports have more demand to London than LJU.
Delete@18:39 what is your badly made point? Ryanair do not see a value in flying between Ljubljana and Stansted which makes it highly improbable they would enter the market in areas where demand is lower - because as we all agree - its largest to London. Wizzair entering small scale from Skopje and Podgorica seems like quite a win for a country Slovenia's size in my opinion.
DeleteI'd rather have a few sustainable routes than a base that disappears after two years like they did in Sarajevo.
ReplyDeleteThe strategy makes sense. Reliable schedules, higher frequencies and profitable routes are worth more than constantly announcing new destinations.
Delete@09:20 as an airline fan or consumer? Are u based in both places?
DeleteWizz has become much more disciplined. Five years ago they would have opened a base first and worried about profitability later.
ReplyDeleteTheir profits are very low.
Delete"Wizz Air reported a net profit of €1.3 million for the full fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, dropping 99% from the previous year. Despite recording higher operating costs and disruptions to its Middle Eastern routes, the airline generated €5.69 billion in total revenue and carried a record 69.7 million passengers."
DeleteMeanwhile, Ryanair Q1 profit €538 million
Delete-34%
DeleteAnd OUs?
Delete10.00
DeleteWho cares profit or loss? Masters in Germany get their feed. Uhljebs get their fat pay checks with zero effort to earn it, and local mafiosos get their percentage on lease contracts. Stoka sitnog zuba paying without even saying beeeee. Why should they care?
People keep asking for a Wizz base, but where would they fly? Most obvious destinations are already served by other airlines.
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of more destinations available.
DeleteI'd love to see Budapest-Zagreb return
DeleteOn an a321? Highly unlikely
DeletePeople underestimate how much money an airline invests when opening a base. It has to make financial sense for years, not just one season.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI'd be curious to know exactly what airport costs Wizz considers acceptable. Every airline seems to have a different threshold.
ReplyDeleteI think Zagreb will eventually get a base, but not before Wizz finishes rebuilding its fleet.
ReplyDeleteSlovenia has fewer than two million people. Expecting a large Wizz base there is unrealistic.
ReplyDeleteThe problem isn't just airport charges. Slovenia has a very small home market and strong competition from nearby airports.
DeleteWaiting and doing nothing for years while every other airport nearby is getting new LCC routes is the main problem.
Deletetwo milions would be enough.. iits other factors that have been well discussed already
DeleteTrieste has population of 200k and that's not a problem for FR?
DeleteMontenegro has 650k and got W6 base. And I think yearly tourists number is similar from SLO and MNE
Delete@10:13 Slovenia has significantly more tourists than Montenegro. The point is not about population of the country its about other aspects of infrastructure. Driving to Montenegro from central/western/northern Europe is horrid, slow and very expensive. Some people do, but many fly and rent cars. Driving to Slovenia from southern Germany is a doddle. Same for most of Croatia.
DeleteYou are very wrong. Majority of Montenegrian tourists are from Serbia and BiH. And majority comes by car.
DeleteYou clearly misunderstand, so try to keep up. Of course many Serbian and Kosovan tourists arrive by car. But a large number of those from far away (who are increasingly important for Montenegro's tourism at the expense of closer markets) come by air. So whilst Montenegro has overall fewer tourists than Slovenia, it has far greater connectivity simply because driving from Poland etc is not as practical. Get it?
DeleteMacedonia had even less people than Slovenia yet Wizz has a seven aircraft based there. It is more complicated then that. Slovenia's problem is that it has strong airports nearby and execellent roads and rail. Getting in/out of Macedonia is tougher. Plus I'm sure many costs ( labour) are lower in Macedonia so there is a business case for base.
Delete@21:04. The comments above argued this.
DeleteGood to finally hear management explain their thinking instead of everyone relying on rumours.
ReplyDeleteThe growth numbers are impressive considering where the airline was just two years ago.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm guessing the likelihood of them having bases in both cities is very low? It will either be one or the other.
ReplyDeleteor neither.
Deleteany questions regarding other exyu airports during that session?
ReplyDeleteA disinformation session held for the employees is not exactly the most reliable source, I'm afraid.
ReplyDeletedisinformation?
DeleteNot famous for telling the thruth to their employees either.
DeleteWizz won't start a base in Zagreb, at least not with 4 planes (if Beg were to close). Wizz might start a couple of lines as a test for 2027. Wizz is well-based in Italy, has 2 bases in the Uk, the rest of it is central/eastern Europe, and even outside.
ReplyDeleteNow, the question is, can Wizz find passengers from those destinations for Zagreb? While i do see the potential to fly from Zagreb to (western/central)Europe and a ton of leisure destinations, it is quite difficult to imagine that there is enough interest in filling Slovakia, Romania and Poland (apart from 3-4 lines), Lithuania (maybe 1 line), Hungary and so. I am not saying it is impossible, but difficult. On the other hand, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Egypt... yes.
@10:16 What on earth are you talking about?
Deleteread it again please. but slowly this time.
DeleteIt doesn't make a whole deal of sense even read slowly..
DeleteIn Slovenia, Maribor could also be an option (some time ago even Discover used a flight school in Maribor with the A320).
ReplyDeleteNobody wants to operate out of Maribor. Its a lost cause.
DeleteMaribor is a hostage of Slovenian Governement who dont want to support Maribor in any way, just pushing Maribor down and support Fraport as much as possible. Maribor can easily be a base for one Wizz aircraft with 5 destinations. Much lower costs as anywere around, quick access from the highway, etc... only terminal is damaged, but if the charter flights can be operated, then also 2-3 departures daily might not be a problem, especially for LCC.
DeleteWizzair having a one aircraft base is not common. I dispute that Maribour could support a base of an LCC ever.
DeleteSlo gov. is undermining the money that this kind of LCC routes bring in country. Since the Manchester route you can see a lot of English turists in the city. With seasonal flights from MAD there are Spanish ppl all over Kranjska Gora. Yet Fraport is keen on their own bussines model. Imagine that they would be playing the same game on Greek islands where mass tourism is needed to support local economy.
ReplyDeleteAnd im not suggesting that slo needs mass tourism but sth better than this situation would be benefical for all.
DeleteUnderestimate ***
DeleteWizz should start flights from already established bases to LJU - Tirana, Rome, Bucharest etc.
ReplyDeleteno demand to the first one. you have two airlines from TRS
DeleteAnon 12:38 Then why the two airlines fly from TRS to TIA if no demand? TRS and LJU are sharing the same catchment area. You are contradicting yourself.
DeleteIt's just the dežurni "no demand" and "fly from other airports" guy.
Deletetrying to ignore the milions of Albanian diaspora in ITA???
Deletethat Italian airports have 40% share of that airport?
thatswhy
not even PRN works properly with at least some Kosovar diaspora in SLO
DeleteGet GP to operate SKP-LJU and I doubt they would have more than 5000 passengers a year. It's not comparable to Wizz. Adria had more than 40.000 passengers a year on SKP, PRN and TIA routes.
DeleteAt a time when those cities were very badly connected to other parts of Europe. That is not the case anymore.
DeleteSo? Wizz has 0 transfers and it looks like SKP-LJU could have 100.000 passengers this year. Or is Wizz carrying transfers for LH?
DeleteSkopje to Ljubljana on wizzair serves a wide region including Albania. The point to point to Tirana is limited and routes like these are not exactly money makers for the airline.
DeleteWe were reading how P2P between SKP and LJU is limited and how it'll never work.
Delete@15.57 ironically by the same guy who is now chearleading for TIA/PRN
DeleteWizz will never open a route to an uncertain market like Slovenia when it is serving it already from its vicinity (in this case Trieste).
its more realistic for Slovenia to hope for seasonal routes from bases like Palermo or flughts to Larnaca
They opened TIA and NAP from TRS when they already fly these routes from Venice.
Delete@16:32 have you needed to fly To Tirana from Ljubljana? Serious question?
Delete@16.32 you are seriously comparing IITA-ITA and TA-AL markets with that of Slovenia?? How can anybody seriously discuss with you then
DeleteTo confuse you even more they also fly from Treviso...
@18:01 god forbid people discussing possible new routes. Not all of us are Fanboys that need only FRA.
Delete@18:09 learn how to read.
Delete@18.10 @18.12 you bring up your "home" airport on every single LJU article on this blog yet you call other people fanboys ...
DeleteCompare the size of north italian aviation market with that of SLO.
What home airport? My home airport is LJU darling. I'm just pointing out BS that is repeated by Fanboys under every single route suggestion.
Delete+1
DeleteIn the context of today's article, Wizz CCO describing LJU and ZAG markets and routes as:
ReplyDelete...riskier "frontier" routes...
...speculative markets...
...bones instead of meat...
is truly priceless! Love the honesty! Thank you!
He didn't describe those two markets. He was talking in general.
Deletebut Slovenia is indeed a risky frontier market with no low cost history so far
Delete@15:08 But he didn't exclude them either, therefore "in the context of today's article"
Delete@15:13 whilst Ljubljana has a decent history with EasyJet, we have to accept that in size and wider market its always going to be limited. I think of the city as having a similar situation as places like Brno (which is much larger than Ljubljana) but whose aviation footprint is limited by good transport links to larger airports nearby.
DeleteI think the expression 'limit ones expectations' is a fitting one for the pretty, but small Slovene market.
Svaka budala ima svoje veselje
Delete