Wizz Air CEO, Jozsef Varadi, has warned there is no quick fix to the aviation industry’s problems as the budget carrier suspends more routes out of the former Yugoslavia in response to staff shortages. Earlier this month, the airline announced the temporary halt to operations from Pristina to Dortmund and Rome, from Tuzla to Milan, from Ljubljana to Charleroi, from Ohrid to Dortmund and from Belgrade to Billund. The low cost airline will now also suspend flights from the Serbian capital to Vaxjo from October 2 until October 30. It will also end flights between Tuzla and Vaxjo. The last service is scheduled to take place on August 26. No date has been specified for the route’s resumption.
The additional suspensions come on top of a number of services being reduced from the former Yugoslavia over the peak summer travel period. From its base in Skopje, the airline has reduced operations to Basel, Cologne, Gothenburg and Friedrichshafen, from Belgrade, frequencies to Dortmund and Malmo have been cut, while from its Sarajevo base, Wizz Air has lowered operations to Cologne and Copenhagen. From Ljubljana, frequencies have been cut to London Luton, Banja Luka has seen Basel and Malmo reduced, Pristina and Niš have witnessed cuts on operations to Vienna, while services between Podgorica and Rome have also been reduced. The Croatian coast has been impacted with frequency cuts from Rome to Dubrovnik, as well as from Poznan to Split.
Mr Varadi has warned consumers not to expect a swift fix, adding that the airline is making changes to its flying patterns to try and avoid disruption. “I don’t think anyone should be expecting a sudden improvement. It’s not going to be perfect, so I don’t think we’re going to be having a great summer. But we’re doing everything we can to make sure we have more safety nets in the system”, Mr Varadi said. He pointed to shortages in air traffic management as the long-term problem. “It’s a very difficult area to train people up. It’s two to three years so there’s no quick fix. Air traffic management is a state-run organisation, so governments should have done a lot better in terms of anticipating what’s coming, and making sure that their systems are up to speed to satisfy demand”, the CEO noted.
Like Emirates said... There were indicators of rapid demand changes, but their actions weren't swift and long term enough... And now we the costumes are paying the price...
ReplyDeletecostumes?
DeleteCostumes?!
DeleteThey obviously meant customers. Move on.
DeleteSwipe keyboard had its own ideas 🤦... Sorry
DeleteMany people even post pandemic run away from this company.. It is sinking ship.. More and more people are resigning because of extremely low working condition and toxic environment
DeleteWizz Air is paying the price for getting rid of 20% of their loyal staff at the beginning of the pandemic, after reassuring them this won't happen even days earlier.
ReplyDelete👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
DeleteFirst, bravo JU! Showed them who’s the boss again. Second, shifting the blame to the ATC/govt because you fired people who now (surprisingly) don’t want to woro for you again?
ReplyDeleteTrue, but also ATC from EU cut some jobs and also lower salaries so people went to UAE, Qatar... And do you really that JU didn't fired staff? Come on, stop dreaming
DeleteWell JU didn't cancel 5% of its entire network this summer.
DeleteThey actually introduced many new routes.
DeleteIt can't be done if you have staff shortage.
How the tables have turned. I remember in 2015 when Air Serbia suspended Larnaca after Wizz started flights. Then they made it seasonal and then eventually returned it to year round and now it's 10 weekly!
ReplyDeleteHelps that JU finally introduced daytime flights to LCA. Tour operators are filling these flights like crazy.
DeleteDo we know how many flights JU will have in LCA in winter?
Deletewww.airserbia.com knows
DeleteI guess it's still early to know since the timetable for winter has not been finalized. Many people still book last minute.
DeleteThey have become a completely unreliable airline
ReplyDeleteThis summer has been a disaster for them in terms of reliability and punctuality.
DeleteGood thing Tuzla has started working with Ryanair and is ending reliance on Wizz.
ReplyDeleteFinally
DeleteTruth be told winter flights for BEG-LCA were never loaded into the system. They also struggled there in winter before covid.
ReplyDeleteIn summer they are making a killing. I wouldn't be surprised if they add a third weekly next summer.
Another thing that JU has as an advantageis that their LCA flights are rarely late. Wizz on the other hand is constantly late.
It's not a good sign that they have no flights on sale for next summer. The rest are all loaded in the system.
DeleteJU has no single flight in the system for next Easter so it has nothing to do with any sign for summer.
DeleteSimply it is too early.
But Wizz does
DeleteIt could be that they are reshuffling things. LCA might be operated by a plane based in Cyprus. Who knows. I would be surprised if this flight will be suspended.
DeleteEven easyJet has tickets in the system no longer than beginning of May 2023.
DeleteNothing strange.
They are also cancelling a lot of flights last minute.
ReplyDeleteYes it happeend to me twice within months. I am not flying wizz aor ever again
DeleteThis is exactly why countries need government owned flag carriers!
ReplyDeleteWizz is still a godsend for many ex-Yu airports without which they would be nothing.
DeleteCountries do need flag carriers,that part I fully agree. I could even agree those flag carriers to be government owned, and tax payers financed, if they take their market opportunities, create demand, grow, and at least try to be competitive, like Air Serbia, for example. Unfortunatelly, Uhljeb Airlines controlled by Kradeze is one very sad story of theft, corruption, nepotism and incompetence and Croatia, tourist power with millions of diaspora on all continents deserves much better
DeleteToday's topic is Wizz air. you don't have anything to say about that, just about croatia as always? And before you attack my comment, as always, I'm not saying you're wrong. I would just not like to read the same thing a thousand times [obsession?], but rather your opinion on the other topic, such as wizz air today.
DeleteSo called Rijeka guy should be left alone and no attention paid to him. In the news, this is potentially good stuff for Trade Air and ETF.
DeleteSpeak for yourself - I respect “ Rijeka” guy, as he talks about the major problem of our countries and of our lives. To be bored about correct and fair statements about the existing huge corruption and to be prepared to ignore it, or even more, join those terrible uhljebs, stranke and similar organizations, is said and eventualy had bring us all to the point where we are today. Salute Mr. Rijeka.
DeleteI am obviously speaking for myself. Neither you or him offer any proof for this allwged corruption. All the economuc KPIs are very pisitive. You and your bud are just longing for yu, admit it!
DeleteI cannot stop wondering as to why his mediocre comments continue to be allowed by the admin...
DeleteWhat positive KPIs? Are you joking? Air Serbia will have loses of more than EUR 25m in 2022, while Croatia will have loses above EUR 50m. Positive KPIs, yes on state “dnevnik” maybe. How many Air Serbia’s ATR flights were cancelled in June due to the lack of (fired) crew - check that, it’s easy. You want something about corruption in CRO - why Trade Air is still not flying under the agreement with the state?
DeletePecine, Plumbum, Piramida, Vezicka Draga, Martinscica, Brajdica, Podvezica, Vezica, Krimeja, Vojak, Strmica, Paris, Bulevard, Delta, Svilno, Katarina, Brascine, Pulac, Kozala, Banska Vrata, Skoljic, Centar, Stari Grad, Zabica, Belveder, Brajda, Rastocine, Skurinje, Drenova, Stranga, Banderovo, Potok, Mlaka, Luka, Krnjevo, Turnic, Podmurvice, Rujevica, Plase, Pehlin, Turkovo, Stupari, Baredice, Zamet, Diracje, Srdoci, Rio, Kantrida, Bivio, Marceljeva Draga, Kostabela, are all parts of my city. Would it be Cacak, I leave other followers of this blog to conclude. You can also conclude if I am "so called Rijeka guy" or Rijeka guy. After all, my IP address could be traced and GPS located. Despite all of that, I am fully aware primitives and/or chauvinists and /or thieves from Kradeze will still attempt to place me to Cacak in order to continue with Divide et impera tacticts they use successfully for robbing and destroying Croatia for decades already
DeleteAnd I am so proud of the mediocre comment above I just wrote 😃
DeleteRijeka, you need help!
DeleteNo, Croatia, and the entire ex-yu need help to be freed from thieves, uhljebs and primitives. You are free to choose your category
DeleteEach day some new cancellation by Wizz.
ReplyDeleteWizz is cancelling all over its network
ReplyDeleteBut it's not their fault according to Varadi haha.
DeleteIt's never Varadi's fault of course...
DeleteManagement in wizz Air got their jobs from nowhere and under "unknown circumstances", plenty of good people left and are getting out from wizz Air... They are worse and worse..inside out
DeleteMore to come
ReplyDeleteHope not
DeleteNo surprise
ReplyDeleteWizz has an unsustainable business model. Without heavy subsidies from all across the network they wont be able to survive. Also, its a mateter of time when Orban will announce the new Hungarian state-owned national airline which would effectively suffocate Wizz.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteBut I think airports/ cities/ governments are willing to keep giving them subsidies.
DeleteAt some point they will give up if Wizz keeps cancelling and delaying flights.
DeleteTuzla has started working with Ryanair.
Delete^ after initially being blackmailed by Wizz not to.
DeleteLol and the 3 3xyu airlines have not subsidies from the gov. Hahaha
DeleteHahaha, this is a good one.
DeleteSame old same old from Wizz. And it's always someone else's fault
ReplyDeleteHope all the routes are eventually restored.
ReplyDeleteWe just flew yesterday with Easyjet to Belgrade (from BSL)… what a difference. Check-In, staff and PUNCTUALITY
ReplyDeleteHow was the load ?
DeleteUnfortunately Easyjet is not much active in Belgrade ..
DeleteThey need better internal planning.
ReplyDeleteIf your Wizz flight isn't cancelled, it will probably be delayed by several hours.
ReplyDeleteThis has more to do with the chaos at European airports than with Wizz Air.
DeleteSure, like they fly to LHR, AMS, CDG...
DeleteYou forgot FRA and MUC
DeleteThat really has nothing to do with the airports they fly to, but countries they overfly and land at.
DeleteThis is a crap company. They cancelled 3 of my flights this summer!
ReplyDeleteOuch. It's crazy that they don't offer passengers alternative flights with other airlines.
DeleteThat is standard for LCCs. They have no agreements on place with other airlines.
DeleteWizz randomly canceled my Rome flight, with literally no explanation. I am really never ever flying LCC, I am sticking to JU, I'd rather pay more and be sure my flight will happen. I am not rich enough to fly with LCC these days.
ReplyDeleteWhat did Wizz offer you as an alternative?
DeleteTo fly a few days later, which was out of the question as my visit was supposed to happen on specific dates or a full refund minus taxes. So they refunded my ticket, but I still lost some 20 EUR on taxes, crazy ... I booked with JU later and everything was fine. The ticket was some 70 EUR more expensive than with WIZZ
DeleteUnsustainable summer route planning led by greed. Varadi has been promised a bonus by wizz Air's owners if he launches a certain number of new routes
ReplyDeleteYep, 100M bonus for doubling the airline.
DeleteWill be get it?
DeleteWasn't Belgrade-Vaxjo launched just last winter?
ReplyDeleteWizz Air often starts routes and then cancels them. Nothing new
DeleteVaxjo isn't cancelled it's just suspended for 4 weeks like the article says.
DeleteSeems that Michael O'Leary was right by saying that Wizz and Easyjet must merge, otherwise they both will go bankrupt.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteI hope it doesn't all end up like that other major Eastern European lcc that went bankrupt a few years ago. Forgot their name.
DeleteSkyEeurope?
Delete*skyeurope
DeleteYes that's the one
DeleteThree two can't be compared in the slightest.
DeleteMore like Scam Air. Cancelled several of my flights in the last month.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if crew take extra mile, and wizz offers bigger bag of peanuts to crew..
ReplyDeleteSo many haters and trolls here to critizise wizzair. Where are all these guys come from?
ReplyDeleteDo you live in Mars?
DeleteAnd most of them only fly with Wizz which makes it even more funny
DeleteThey would, if they didn't cancel half of their flights.
DeleteThis Mars-guy is the best example, can't use proper language to communicate
DeleteZašto seku Malme?
ReplyDeleteThis is what you get, when airliners are run like banks or high risk funds plus when managers are paid extras not for making company greater, but bigger and looking mightier in paper. Wizzair is a joke. ATC had staffing problems during pandemic, but nobody was flying at the time. Free route was introduced in large chunk of airspace from Poland to Italy, Austria to Greece an arround. But they need to save money and route planning was probably given to some pimpled kid, as Wzz flights often have zig-zag routes and then they are crying for shortcuts. Mr. Varadi, you better learn how to run a company without ruining it on the way.
ReplyDelete"when airliners are run like banks"
DeleteIndeed, they should be run like an ATM for unlimited funneling of taxpayers money into the pockets of the chosen ones. Sounds familiary?
FRA doesn't magically increase capacity in the airspace, and both staffing and capacity issues are a regular occurence every day in European airspace - as they have been pre-, during and post-Covid.
ATM? You said that, not me. And if you don’t understand that bigger on paper is not same as greater, its your fault, not mine. And yes, aviation is specific business, and managers shoul respect that. If you don’t trust me, ask some boeing ingeneer from pre-mcdonell douglas merge era, how business model adopted from douglas almost ruined boeing.
DeleteAbout FRA…you also completely missed the point. They can plan almost whatever they wish, but for some reason beyond any logic, still plan zigzag routes and then expect directs.
DeleteTaxpayers, taxpayers, blah, blah, blah, ... Cut the cr*p with the taxpayer argument. Are taxpayers complaining when healthcare services are subpar? Or how about education system in socialist countries? Apparently, everything is perfect elsewhere.
Delete@12:35: Isn't one of the tasks of the ATC to expedite the flow of traffic, where it is safe to do so?
DeleteI would expect decent ATC unit to provide direct routing, where this can be done safely, regardless of the route which was planned - which is what has been done for the last couple of decades before FRA was a thing.
Varadi is a great visionary. He repeated that it will be a great summer, now when the 2/3 of the summer is behind us he says it won't be a great summer. No #&@ Sherlock! A real manager shoud have had anticipated it and not stating the obvious in hindsight. The state Wizz Air is in is the direct result of the way Varadi treated the employees of the company in the last 5-6 years (even before covid). He is the one responsible and not the "circumstances" he's trying to use as an excuse.
ReplyDeleteVillages and more villages cancelled. But also, the truth is that the mentioned routes in the article have fewer demand. Speaking of OHD, as far as I know the main visitors arrive to it by land and from neighbouring countries. It acts as an Albanian gasto alternative airport or the Macedonians with Bulgarian passports living in the UK.
ReplyDeleteTuzla also witnessed some cancellations but it is also because the rest of the Bosnian airports are generally active in creating more routes, especially SJJ.
LJU-CRL kinda comes with a surprise. For an EU country having flights to BRU is almost "essential" because of the EC headquarters and administration. Since the demise of Adria, LJU has unfortunately been literally withering like a dry plant although it is now slowly recovering.
svasta
Deletedont wanna know the name of the village he is from
Delete@14.46 what a waste of time to read it bro
DeleteWizz is losing a lot of money. How close are they to bankruptcy?
ReplyDeleteask the 3 exyu airlines
Deletethose 3 said they are more likely to survive than Wizz
DeleteWizz Air generally has a sound low-cost model. Yes, they screwed up during the pandemic and it's hurting them big time, but long term they are a money-making business with large expansion plans.
DeleteUnlike... some of the exyu airlines, who probably wouldn't survive next 24 months if you closed the government tap.
Wizz is fully liquid, far from bankruptcy. As you can see, they don't have lack of demand, but a lot of demand they can't handle. They don't have enough of what they sell.
DeleteWith out of control inflation and looming recession Europe will have much less disposable income in 2023. Tightening the belt will affect discretionary expenses first. That type of spending is a sweet spot where Wizz makes money. Reduction in travel will hit lowcosters harder than other airlines.
DeleteOn the contrary, people will still want to go on holidays, and visit their family abroad. They will be more price sensitive, so instead of travelling with "full fare" airlines, they will go for the lowest cost, which is where LCCs thrive.
DeleteInstead of visiting relatives twice they will go once. Instead of doing a city break people will save that money to pay bills. Those are LCC customers.
DeleteThose who need to travel for business or emergency they will go with legacy carriers.
In a recession, business will again remember that Zoom, Teams etc. are a thing, and less important meetings will be moved from in-person to online.
DeleteWizz is fully liquid? According to their Q1 results published today they lost 452 million in three months (april-may-june). That's 40% of their cash. In three months. Tables can turn very quickly.
DeleteThey are increasing AUH-BEG to 4x from October, I guess demand is high and it's easier to find cheap workforce over there.
ReplyDeleteAll the flights to/from AUH are going full to the last seat.
DeleteThey are useless. This morning 2/3 of their first departures from BEG were delayed by like an hour. I think their ground handlers are useless.
ReplyDeletegarbage airline, just like brother brother Ryanair.
ReplyDelete