Wizz Air wipes out over a million seats from EX-YU markets this summer

Wizz Air has removed 1.4 million seats from markets in the former Yugoslavia this summer season on its original plan, as the low cost carrier has 20% of its fleet grounded for inspection due to a rare anomaly found in the powder metal utilised in the production of specific engine components. The airline has reduced its number of flights in the region during the summer, which begins on March 31 and lasts until October 26, by 22.3% on its original plan, while capacity has been cut by 31.5%. Both are significantly down on last year’s operations, with 20.8% fewer flights and 30.7% fewer seats, although this reduction also accounts for the airline’s Tuzla base closure, which occurred in September of last year.

Skopje, as Wizz Air’s largest base in the former Yugoslavia, will see overall capacity reduced by 25.3% this summer compared to its original plan. The airline will also shrink its operations compared to last summer, with a 15.7% decrease in capacity. Wizz Air’s cuts have resulted in the Macedonian market loosing its position as the second fastest growing in Europe this year. The cuts extend to Ohrid which has lost 48.3% of its Wizz Air capacity on last year.

Belgrade will also be hit by Wizz’s network reductions, with the airline to cut 22.4% of capacity compared to last summer, and 35% on what the budget carrier initially planned. Niš will not be spared, with capacity down 46.7% on the original schedule for this summer, and 50% on last year. In Ljubljana, the low cost carrier has cut 35.5% of its planned seat capacity for the summer and 15.7% on last summer.

Pristina’s Wizz Air cuts see the airline slash 27.2% of its originally planned capacity for this summer, and a 33.3% reduction on last year. Podgorica sees fewer cuts, with capacity decreased 8.3% on its originally filed schedule and 11.8% on summer 2023. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo has not sustained any cuts for its single London service, however, Tuzla sees a 17.9% cut on the initially planned schedule for this summer and a 78.9% reduction on last year following its base closure. Banja Luka has sustained a 34.5% cut on the original capacity scheduled for this summer and a 64.7% cut on last year.

Dubrovnik Airport sees Wizz Air remove 86% of its planned 2024 summer capacity and an 82.9% reduction on last year. Its counterpart in Split looses 49.2% of its initially scheduled seats for this summer, as well as a 21.4% cut on last summer.

Wizz Air change in seat capacity, summer 2024