Hungarian Wizz Air in trouble: several popular flights could be cancelled
The Hungarian low-cost airline, Wizz Air, is struggling in West Europe but is performing well in the East. However, the company’s troubles with several Western routes may result in a flight cancellation wave affecting even Hungary and Budapest.
Wizz Air struggling in West Europe
According to simpleflying.com, Wizz Air’s Western flights to popular winter destinations like Chania (Greece), Funchal (Madeira, Portugal), Tenerife South (Spain), Keflavik (Greece), Malaga (Spain), and Ohrid (North Macedonia), Olsztyn-Mazury (Poland), and Palanga (Lithuania) will be ceased. The author, James Pearson, explained the reason that all the flights on those routes appear as ‘sold out’ in the company’s booking system.
He wrote that Wizz Air cut more routes than other airlines due to the speed of its expansion “and the experimentation of specific routes, although projected demand and performance are fully forecasted.” The author says the Hungarian low-cost airline’s performance was worse in West Europe. For instance, they cannot operate extremely popular flights like the one between London-Gatwick and Tenerife (Spain) profitably. The seat load factor a week before the departure of a plane in January was only 38 pc, Mr Person wrote. The market is supposed to be thriving in that month. Almost 100 thousand passengers flew between London and Tenerife in January 2020, he added.
Wizz Air leaves England, Italy?
When examining the reasons why Wizz Air has been performing poorly in West Europe, the author mentions the lack of brand awareness. On top of that, there are many delays, cancellations and schedule changes. That generates distrust and paints the airline in an unfavourable light regarding reliability. Although it is cheap in West Europe, customers do not tolerate poor service.
Okosutas.hu says that Wizz Air would not necessarily cancel the London flights. It might lower their frequency if they cannot bring the requested seat reservation rates. However, they argue that despite Wizz Air offering seats for EUR 10 between London and Tenerife, Madeira, they could not fill their planes with travellers. Thus, there must be some underlying issues.
The Hungarian media outlet specialising in travel news says that Wizz Air’s Eastern European flights were very popular among tourists and employees working abroad. However, the company struggles with the West routes. For example, EasyJet can fill their planes with passengers for GPB 50-60, while Wizz Air cannot do so despite they offer tickets for only GBP 10.
In England, Wizz Air entered an intense competition, which they do not seem to win. Okosutas.hu believes one factor may have been the extremely high baggage prices.
Okosutas.hu reckons that the low-cost airline would not pump money forever into its expansion in Italy and the United Kingdom. The question is where they will shift their focus next provided they leave those two above-mentioned markets.
Read alsoHungarian Wizz Air in trouble: several popular flights could be cancelled
Source: okosutas.hu, simpleflying.com