Wizz Air has begun its largest expansion in the former Yugoslavia to date, with 44 new routes launching during the 2026 summer season. The airline is adding over 2.4 million additional seats across former Yugoslav markets compared to last summer. The biggest increase will come from its largest base in the region, Skopje, where the low cost carrier will station a seventh aircraft from mid-July. In addition to recovering previously subdued capacity caused by engine issues on newer Airbus aircraft, the airline has introduced several new routes from the Macedonian capital over the past six months and will add a further four this summer.
Wizz Air capacity growth during summer 2026 compared to summer 2025
Wizz Air will officially open its base in Podgorica today by stationing an Airbus A321neo in the city, with a second aircraft set to join later this summer. This will result in the introduction of seventeen new routes. The airline will instantly become Montenegro’s largest carrier during the summer season, holding a 25.2% capacity share. “Wizz Air is deeply committed to Montenegro’s future - by expanding affordable travel options for its citizens, supporting sustainable aviation through modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, driving growth in tourism and related industries, and enhancing Podgorica’s role as a regional transport hub. We are proud to deepen our roots in Podgorica and bring more opportunities to the people of Montenegro. This base is more than an operational expansion - it’s a long-term investment in the future of Montenegrin mobility, economy, and global reach”, Wizz Air’s CEO, Jozsef Varadi said.
The low-cost carrier based its second aircraft in Tuzla yesterday, resulting in the launch of a further six new routes this summer. Local authorities have indicated they are now aiming for the airline to station a third jet in the city as well. “This is an important step in the continued development of our airport and in strengthening its role as a regional hub. The arrival of a second based aircraft will increase operational capacity, enable more flights and enhance connectivity for our citizens to destinations across Europe”, the head of Tuzla Airport, Dževad Halilčević, said.
Elsewhere, the carrier is also undertaking a significant expansion into Croatia, a market where it has lagged behind its low cost rivals due to, what it previously described as, high costs at coastal airports. The airline is adding an additional 248.060 seats to the Croatian market compared to last year, launching a number of new routes, primarily from Poland.
How come W6 is not affected by the war and the increase in fuel prices?
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly
DeleteIt has cancelled some routes in Romania. A lot of the capacity increase is coming from replacement of A320s with A321s and new routes that were launched in winter.
DeleteRyanair and Wizz Air hedged their oil.
DeleteKnowing Wizz Air, half of this growth will be gone next year.
Delete^ Did W6's growth from last year gone away this year?
DeleteLast summer they had no growth. They reduced capacity and operations massively becuase of neo engine problems.
DeleteActually they didn't, you are thinking of 2024.
DeleteNo, I am thinking 2025.
DeleteNope, Wizz last year grew almost 10%.
DeleteW6, FR and most airlines tend to hedge the price of fuel for many months into the future.
DeleteSo big increases in the price of oil do not affect them too much.
They do hedge by the formula but not majority of fuel which means costs will grow, on a flip side hedging is not timeless so expect fuel expenses up substantially soon. Bravo Wizz for expansion, this is huge for ex yu markets!
DeleteFR is hedging 80% of its fuel needs. Aegean 60%.
DeleteVery few serious airlines in Europe do not hedge at all and just pay whatever the spot price is.
Can OU afford to hedge?
DeleteI cannot understand how markets such as Tuzla are good enough for Wizz to add 500k seats in one summer, meanwhile Ljubljana is "too small" or has "too much competition around", even though is 10x richer and with more people. Happy with most of the airports having growth though!
ReplyDeleteThey get paid to fly from TZL and pay almost nothing for handling costs at the airport.
DeleteTuzla pays them heavy subsidies, Ljubljana doesn't
DeleteThere are also subsidies for LJU. I understand those are not so high, but a few of the most popular routes would for sure be profitable. I am not asking them to base 6 aircraft there.
DeleteThe issue with LJU subsidies is that they get paid retroactively which is highly unattractive for any airline.
DeleteLol, Ljubljana is not 10x richer than Tuzla, where did you get that? 😅
DeleteLjubljana airport is protecting its owner, LH group. Simply as that
DeleteAnon 0942 is probably correct. Wizz air stated some time ago that they pay to Fraport almost 40 EUR per departing passenger. Even with subsidies (paid by state, not LJU) it's still close to 20 and this is well beyond they pay anywhere else. I think it's not in interest of LJU to get Wizz air base in LJU, even though it should be beneficial for passengers and the state.
Delete@09:04 Look at the connections from TZL. You have FMM, BSL, DTM, HHN etc. Mostly gasto routes. The only two hubs Tuzla is connected to are Istanbul (Sabiha) and Zürich. Try to fly to US or the Far East and you'll see LJU is far better off.
DeleteΙ wondered where the FDS* sufferer had gone, good to see you buddy, thanks for the laugh!
Delete* Fraport Derangement Syndrome
I hope days when flying was in reach for peanuts are finally coming to an end.
Delete@10:53 Krašnja go to work, you don't have time to post here.
DeleteThe Germans, the Germans are coming to get us! 🤪
DeleteIs there any chance Wizz Air may introduce flights from Zagreb.
ReplyDeleteAs much chance as Ryanair introducing flights from Belgrade.
DeleteOnce Ryanair pull out of Zagreb due to their subsidies being reduced or cancelled Wizz will make a comeback there.
DeleteI'd love to see a BEG-ZAG flight on W6!
DeleteSKP-ZAG is a major success so I can definetely see BEG being succesfull too.
DeleteWizz does not fly SKP-ZAG.
DeleteI meant LJU, sorry!
DeleteYou will never see W6 at ZAG BEG route. No such demand, most of the people use car
Delete@09:19 not a chance.
DeleteBEG-LJU please
Deleteboth BEG-LJU and SKP-ZAG would be a hit but they arent eligible for subsidies so its kind of unlikely
DeleteHype about Belgrade as a party city is gone in Slovenia. So i dont think there is enough P2P as in Skopje.
Delete@12.31 unfortunately thats true but i stil think there is enough interest in both directions for at least 2 weekly
DeleteInterest doesnt always equal profitability
DeleteAha good to know
DeleteHuge growth overall.
ReplyDeleteWhy no growth in SJJ, PRN or BNX?
ReplyDeleteNot enough subsidies.
DeleteFor SJJ it's weird, they probably reduced Rome in some weeks so there's a small drop. I'd honestly expect the route to increase after solid performance
DeleteYes, there is a small reduction on the Rome service. Five fewer flights for the duration of the entire summer season (or ten less if both directions are counted)
DeleteWizz is on a roll!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what the new Tuzla routes are?
ReplyDeleteYou have them all listed on the right side in new route launches
DeleteAh didn't see it as I'm on mobile, works on Desktop Mode doe
DeleteActually I found it works on mobile too :D you click on the three lines on the upper right side of the page
DeleteThey will start cancelling flights before long. All Airlines, low-cost and flag carriers will have to make reductions due to the Iran conflict.
ReplyDeleteThat growth in Skopje is massive.
ReplyDeleteSkopje just keeps growing. Hard to believe it now has seven based aircraft.
DeleteThe Skopje expansion is impressive, but it also shows how dependent the airport is on a single airline.
DeleteImpressive
ReplyDeleteThe new pink sheriff is in town.
ReplyDeleteGood news for passengers. More routes and lower fares. Hard to complain from a consumer perspective.
Delete@09:40 in some towns
DeleteThis is a massive expansion but I wonder how sustainable it is given current expenses. Feels a bit too ambitious.
ReplyDeleteLike all multi-national LCCs they will play around with capacity over the years. But its positive, especially in places like North Macedonia which now have good connectivity they previously lacked. Tuzla too.
DeleteI'm surprised they don't fly to Tivat.
ReplyDeleteAirport operator keeps pushing all growth to Podgorica
DeleteWhy?
DeleteMaybe something to do with Tivat's lack of proper infrastructure to support a base?
DeleteTivat is shut at night guys...useless for a LCC
DeleteWizz is not really interested in seasonal airports when opening a base
DeleteInteresting how Croatia is suddenly back in focus for Wizz after years of complaints about costs. Something must have changed behind the scenes.
ReplyDeleteNope, they just realized that demand is strong and they are better off serving it rather than complaining that Dalmatian airports do not give them large subsidies.
DeleteThat is the exact same situation with Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek airports.
You can't threaten this type of destinations with leaving because other airlines will rush in to fill in your capacity and more.
This just shows how aggressive Wizz Air is compared to other low-cost carriers in the region. Ryanair seems much more cautious lately.
ReplyDeleteWizz has many planes with which it does not know what to do with and they are expanding like crazy. All planes which were at Wizz Abu Dhabi need new bases. Besides this, they have planes coming out of maintenance which were previously grounded. Western Europe is will covered by Ryan and Easy and other LCC, so their main markets are in the east.
DeleteNot connected to this growth, they were even planning a base in Tel Aviv. Now they will need to find another base for those planes.
Once the situation normalizes in Israel the Wizz base is back in business.
Deletenope it doesnt show anything, last two years they had their engine issues. Ryanair have no new aircraft deliveries
DeleteLOL, who says that FR do not have any new aircraft deliveries? In 2024 alone FR received 34 737 MAX 8-200!
DeleteThe stuff you can read here is wild!
and you smart boy think they havent deployed them yet??
DeleteThey also had 24 aircraft delivered last year.
DeleteLet’s see if this expansion sticks or if we see cuts next year like before.
ReplyDeleteThe numbers for Split are a bit strange, considering that it has cancelled some routes and reduced others, but has not introduced anything new, so it is unclear how it can have such a big increase in the number of seats offered.
ReplyDeleteThe airline has increased its number of flights to Gdansk, Krakow, Katowice and Luton. No routes have been cancelled compared to the previous summer.
DeleteNot convinced Tuzla can support a third aircraft. Feels more like political ambition than market reality.
ReplyDeleteSkopje+Ohrid over 800,000 extra seats!
ReplyDeleteShouldn’t they base fifth aircraft at BEG? Long overdue
ReplyDeleteSome commenters here will go apoplectic if this was to happen!
DeleteIt would be nice to see increase number between 2024 and 2026. After last year's reduction, this years number fantastic, but they dont represent a real growth.
ReplyDeleteFor example, compate an increase of YU and Wizz from 2024 to 2026 in Belgrade
Compared to summer 2024, Wizz Air has 553.244 additional seats in Belgrade.
Delete@12.25 don't forget they replaced A320s with A321neos. It's a huge jump in seats per each flight
Delete