Hi,
First of all, let me get the record straight: I did not imply that any aircraft had been impounded. The question mark in the title as well as the body of the message makes this crystal clear.
Anyway, this morning I had a look at Wizz's website, and I can make the following observations:
- They have a fleet of 6 aircraft, one of which has now gone tech. What does an airline normally do in these circumstances: charter an aircraft or cancel all flying? Does anybody know what this airline has done?
- They have been giving away a substantial number of seats - several hundreds of thousands if I count all the promotions they have done. Does the fact that they also do this for flights close to departure mean that they otherwise cannot fill their aircraft? Of course, it is great for us, consumers!
- They have announced several routes which they have never operated or have scrapped shortly after starting them (e.g. Prague, Venice, Munich, some Malmo flights). This does not make a good impression.
- They are now facing quite a lot of competition from easyJet and SkyEurope, even though the actual airports operated to are not always the same. Surely, one would expect more advertising in such cases.
Splat noted that they have deep pockets; but which investors does not eventually want to see his money back with some additional profit? BTW, does anybody know who those backers are?
I am not a financial specialist, but the above facts make me wary of their future. Winter will be very tough for them, I reckon, and eventually I am afraid that "impounded aircraft" might not be that much of a stretch...