Wizzair
Join Date: Sep 2004
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LOT & POLISH AIRPORT AUTHORITIES play a "NASTY GAME"
Wizz Air is outraged by Warsaw Airport plans
Wizz Air is outraged by the fact that PPL (Polish Airport Authorities) will close the Etiuda Terminal and double the charges imposed on airlines currently operating out of Etiuda effectively from April 2009.
PPL has confirmed no plans for re-accommodating the low cost carriers other than proposing the prohibitive charges currently available for operations out of the main terminal of Warsaw Airport.
Wizz Air, the largest low fare - low cost carrier at Warsaw Airport has been operating out of Etiuda Terminal since September 2004 and has made significant investments in setting up and running an operating base that currently employs over 100 local staff. Wizz Air's Warsaw traffic will record 875,000 passengers in 2008, accounting for 15% of the airport's total traffic.
The overall airline capacity at Warsaw Airport dropped by 14% in November compared to the same month last year, marking the third sharpest decline of Europe's primary airports. During the same period Wizz Air's capacity in Warsaw grew 12% or 4,500 seats which was is the airport's largest capacity increase in November.
Wizz Air views the PPL plan as a major jeopardy on the future perspective of civil aviation of Poland's capital and a hostile move against the interest of Poland and the Polish people. Millions of Polish people who currently enjoy the financial benefits of low fares will suffer increased charges or no low fare opportunities at all. Also as a result of the PPL plan hundreds of people will lose their jobs.
József Váradi, Chief executive Officer of Wizz Air said: 'We are outraged by the irresponsible and one sided decision of PPL to wipe Warsaw out from the map of low cost airlines. Even though the constantly changing management of PPL has been talking about opening Modlin airport for low cost airlines, it was not able to deliver any progress over the past 5 years." He went on saying: 'This incompetent decision is only aimed at protecting LOT, the airline which has been wasting hundreds of millions of zlotys of Polish tax payers money on Centralwings. Once it failed, they decided to shut down the low cost terminal to protect the struggling mother company. This goes against the spirit of free market economy and EU antimonopoly regulations.'
Wizz Air publicly requests the revision of the Warsaw Airport plans in the spirit of the interest of the Polish people and the prospect of Polish civil aviation.
Wizz Air is outraged by the fact that PPL (Polish Airport Authorities) will close the Etiuda Terminal and double the charges imposed on airlines currently operating out of Etiuda effectively from April 2009.
PPL has confirmed no plans for re-accommodating the low cost carriers other than proposing the prohibitive charges currently available for operations out of the main terminal of Warsaw Airport.
Wizz Air, the largest low fare - low cost carrier at Warsaw Airport has been operating out of Etiuda Terminal since September 2004 and has made significant investments in setting up and running an operating base that currently employs over 100 local staff. Wizz Air's Warsaw traffic will record 875,000 passengers in 2008, accounting for 15% of the airport's total traffic.
The overall airline capacity at Warsaw Airport dropped by 14% in November compared to the same month last year, marking the third sharpest decline of Europe's primary airports. During the same period Wizz Air's capacity in Warsaw grew 12% or 4,500 seats which was is the airport's largest capacity increase in November.
Wizz Air views the PPL plan as a major jeopardy on the future perspective of civil aviation of Poland's capital and a hostile move against the interest of Poland and the Polish people. Millions of Polish people who currently enjoy the financial benefits of low fares will suffer increased charges or no low fare opportunities at all. Also as a result of the PPL plan hundreds of people will lose their jobs.
József Váradi, Chief executive Officer of Wizz Air said: 'We are outraged by the irresponsible and one sided decision of PPL to wipe Warsaw out from the map of low cost airlines. Even though the constantly changing management of PPL has been talking about opening Modlin airport for low cost airlines, it was not able to deliver any progress over the past 5 years." He went on saying: 'This incompetent decision is only aimed at protecting LOT, the airline which has been wasting hundreds of millions of zlotys of Polish tax payers money on Centralwings. Once it failed, they decided to shut down the low cost terminal to protect the struggling mother company. This goes against the spirit of free market economy and EU antimonopoly regulations.'
Wizz Air publicly requests the revision of the Warsaw Airport plans in the spirit of the interest of the Polish people and the prospect of Polish civil aviation.
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Sounds like a Ryanair press release 
but you do have to sympathise with them. Finally, they are a Hungarian company, it seems the Polish authorities are more interested in that, and protecting their own carrier. . . the consumer ? phaw 
but you do have to sympathise with them. Finally, they are a Hungarian company, it seems the Polish authorities are more interested in that, and protecting their own carrier. . . the consumer ? phaw
Perhaps either the Polish Govt or Warsaw airport have realised that LOT is having some serious issues and could do with a bit of assistance ?
Alternatively, someone may have realised that Etiuda cannot keep increasing its number of pax forever ?
The EU may frown on state aid - but the Polish electorate would presumably not be happy if Govt-majority-owned LOT were to go bust or be sold for a pittance and they perceive nothing has been done to prevent this. Privatisation in a recession is tough.
If Italy and Greece have been able to largely get away with taking an active role in managing Alitalia and Olympic....
Alternatively, someone may have realised that Etiuda cannot keep increasing its number of pax forever ?
The EU may frown on state aid - but the Polish electorate would presumably not be happy if Govt-majority-owned LOT were to go bust or be sold for a pittance and they perceive nothing has been done to prevent this. Privatisation in a recession is tough.
If Italy and Greece have been able to largely get away with taking an active role in managing Alitalia and Olympic....
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I think Wizz could easily make more radical conclusions. There is an airport in Lodz nearby (some 130 from Warsaw, the town itself has over 750 thousand inhabitants) as a replacement for Okecie. Later the private-owned Sochaczew airport 50km West of Warsaw could replace the suppressed Modlin (belonging to the earlier-mentioned PPL authorities). Fight the monopolies!
Wizz would have to be very confident to move one of their major bases from the capital in Warsaw to Lodz 2 hours travel-time away. It's not easy to persuade staff to move home in the expectation of moving back again in 3 years, just to save a bit on airport fees. Such a move might also provide a stunning opportunity for airlines like Norwegian and Easyjet
Join Date: Jan 2006
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The Etiuda terminal was a makeshift building, opened hastily, when there was political pressure to let LCCs into Warsaw airport. It was intended as a temporary measure anyway and frankly speaking it was a real pigsty (and I mean it!). Besides, why does LCC operating from the same airport have to pay less than a traditional carrier? Why do Ryanair or Easy not operate into Heatrhrow then? I'm glad it's over.
Cheers!
Cheers!
why does LCC operating from the same airport have to pay less than a traditional carrier
Much the same as flying long-haul first class with the nice lounge, or with no lounge in economy - you still fly from the same airport and the flight takes the same amount of time.
Of course, each airline at Warsaw has to then ask itself if it wants to promote itself based on quality or on price and act accordingly....
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Apparently, Wizz is very frustrated about the situation in Warsaw:
In spite of that I believe Warsaw will lost its lo-co connections soon. I bet FR will not bother to return, EZY's presence is rather symbolic. "This blunt decision could mean the end of low cost aviation from Warsaw." Could agree.
Save low fares!! - Don't let PPL wipe Warsaw from the map of low cost aviation!
From April 2009 PPL has decided to shut down Etiuda terminal, double the charges for airlines currently operating from that terminal (offering low fares to their customers) and has no intention of offering another low cost airport option.
This blunt decision could mean the end of low cost aviation from Warsaw. It will affect millions of Polish people who currently enjoy the financial benefits of low fares travel opportunities offered by customer focused low fare airlines such as Wizz Air. It also means that hundreds of people could losing their jobs.
Don't let the government deprive you from low cost travel!
Don't let the authorities protect LOT's high fares!
Don't let LOT and PPL waste your money on useless expensive terminal development and failing airline attempts!
Join us in saving low cost travel from Warsaw!
Sign the petition:
We undersigned call on the Polish Airport Authorities and the Polish government to revise its airport plans in the spirit of the interest of the Polish people and the prospect of Polish civil aviation.
If you agree, please send an e-mail with your name and e-mail to this address: [email protected]
Thank you for your support. We will make sure that your voice is being heard.
From April 2009 PPL has decided to shut down Etiuda terminal, double the charges for airlines currently operating from that terminal (offering low fares to their customers) and has no intention of offering another low cost airport option.
This blunt decision could mean the end of low cost aviation from Warsaw. It will affect millions of Polish people who currently enjoy the financial benefits of low fares travel opportunities offered by customer focused low fare airlines such as Wizz Air. It also means that hundreds of people could losing their jobs.
Don't let the government deprive you from low cost travel!
Don't let the authorities protect LOT's high fares!
Don't let LOT and PPL waste your money on useless expensive terminal development and failing airline attempts!
Join us in saving low cost travel from Warsaw!
Sign the petition:
We undersigned call on the Polish Airport Authorities and the Polish government to revise its airport plans in the spirit of the interest of the Polish people and the prospect of Polish civil aviation.
If you agree, please send an e-mail with your name and e-mail to this address: [email protected]
Thank you for your support. We will make sure that your voice is being heard.
In spite of that I believe Warsaw will lost its lo-co connections soon
Maybe a few of the more marginal routes might disappear, but with LOT having significant issues of its own, SkyEurope having quit WAW and the demise of Centralwings, it seems to be easy-ish money for the remaining stronger LCCs. Wizz might be making a lot of O'Leary-esque noise, but in 2009 would they really pull out of one of their main airports and give a monopoly to Norwegian ?
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Wizz Air takes by surprise again!
Wizz Air continue to expand, the next destination is Prague (Ruzyne), 6 new routes announced:
- to Milan/Bergamo, Orio Al Serio (BGY)
- to Paris, Beauvais (BVA)
- to Brussels, Charleroi (CRL)
- to Eindhoven (EIN)
- to Rome (FCO)
- to London, Luton (LTN)
Having announced an expansion at Prague, anyone want to make a bet as to when Wizz start flying from another SkyEurope base, Kosice (or if they can get a low-cost deal, Vienna) ?
Ryanair seem to have staked out SkyEurope's other base in Bratislava and I don't think Bratislava is big enough to act as a base for 2 LCCs
Ryanair seem to have staked out SkyEurope's other base in Bratislava and I don't think Bratislava is big enough to act as a base for 2 LCCs
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Ryanair seem to have staked out SkyEurope's other base in Bratislava and I don't think Bratislava is big enough to act as a base for 2 LCCs
Wizz recently moved all routes from Girona to Barcelona El Prat.
And most flights from Rome Ciampino to Rome Fuimicino, so the precedence is there for Wizz to comfortably operate out of a "high cost" airport.
I can think of other routes to try besides PRG-ORK which would lead to a competitor response and an inevitable fare war with the much larger and bigger-pocketed FR. Wizz is not a large airline, and needs to choose routes it can operate profitably, and fights that it can win without inflicting too much damage upon itself. W6 should instead be trying to take over as much of NE's prime routes and infrastructure as it possibly can
The European economy is struggling and the LCC business is in a consolidation phase, with the weaker players struggling. Now is not the time to go off doing things for a costly blaze of brash publicity
The European economy is struggling and the LCC business is in a consolidation phase, with the weaker players struggling. Now is not the time to go off doing things for a costly blaze of brash publicity
Wizz recently moved all routes from Girona to Barcelona El Prat.
And most flights from Rome Ciampino to Rome Fuimicino, so the precedence is there for Wizz to comfortably operate out of a "high cost" airport.
And most flights from Rome Ciampino to Rome Fuimicino, so the precedence is there for Wizz to comfortably operate out of a "high cost" airport.
Girona has a strong appeal to the holidaymaker who wants 2 weeks on a Spanish beach or to visit a theme park. It is not a good airport for those who want to travel to the city of Barcelona.
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I can think of other routes to try besides PRG-ORK which would lead to a competitor response and an inevitable fare war with the much larger and bigger-pocketed FR. Wizz is not a large airline, and needs to choose routes it can operate profitably, and fights that it can win without inflicting too much damage upon itself. W6 should instead be trying to take over as much of NE's prime routes and infrastructure as it possibly can