Hi there,
Definitely oil crises will affect also Wizzair but I think they will maintain their plans and move forward. I believe that Eastern Europe its not so weak and people we'll continue travel around even if they must pay higher prices. Fuel price it is affecting not only airline industry and traveling by plane will be more expencive but there is no doubt that is also much more faster than any other means of transportation and we all know that everyone nowadays live against the clock. As for turism, people in ex comunist countries are just now starting (more or less) to enjoy spending vacations abroad and I'm sure they wont give up easily to this even if they must pay more to reach their favorite destination. Also the prices for routes inside country (at least in Romania) are competing with railway transportation prices, the advantage being speed and confort.
I have noticed an increase of wizz prices starting with august but are still affordable and competitive.

Anyway, time will tell....

bfs to ktw scrapped.. it looks like cvt might be in sept does anyone know if any other uk airports going to be affected, hopefully they'll come back later.

wizz air
 

Does anyone know what is happening at wizz ? All flight to / from katowice are cancelled though Budapest and other Polish seem to be running. I spoke to the coach co who operate the Wizz Katowice / Krakow shuttle and they told me they had done no shuttles since friday !

BHX man
 

My roster still has KTW-BVA-BUD and back.

Also KTW-EIN-BUD and back.

BOH - KTW is still bookable through out the winter, but only 2 X weekly instead of the usual 3.

@ BHX man

6 legs cancelled (due AOG) vs. 27 operated from/to KTW that day. I would not say "all flight from / to Katowice are cancelled". :)

Yes, I now know that it wasnt as bad as feared. Over reaction !

It was Ryanair that planned a base there. Some sources say, however, that in Wroclaw (Poland) Wizzair will be first. If true, the announcement on a new Airbus to be based in this airport due tomorrow.

Edit: Nope, nothing as yet. Seems to be somebody's speculation only.

Wizz Air opens its 10th base in Timisoara, Romania

Wizz Air announced at a press conference today that it would open its 10th operating base in Timisoara, Romania in March 2009.


London Luton 3 flights/week 17 December 2008
Rome Fiumicino 3 flights/week 17 December 2008
Dortmund 3 flights/week 17 December 2008
Milan Bergamo 3 flights/week 11 March 2009
Barcelona 3 flights/week 11 March 2009
Paris Beauvais 2 times/week 11 March 2009
Valencia 2 times/week 11 March 2009
Venice Treviso 3 times/week 11 March 2009

More changes in Ukraine
 

Wizzair seem to have changed their minds in the Ukraine yet again, with Zaporozhye and Kharkov disappearing out of the schedule for the second time, and a big shuffle round with regards to the remaining flights in the winter schedule.

This seems to leave three domestic routes (Kiev to Simferopol, Lviv and Odessa)
running four times a week each (on the same days), and no flights at all on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.

I'm guessing by this that the planned international flights will operate on the empty days... any ideas when this will be announced? Also, I feel a bit sorry for those who may be interested in using the domestic routes, as things have been chopped and changed there four times now!

Still, can't wait to get out to the Ukraine if/when Wizz start flying to London!

Seems to me that Wizz is showing all the classic signs of an airline running out of cash. Routes announced started and cancelled or rejigged at short notice all over the place. Not enough fat in business to build what was thought only a few weeks ago by Wizz to be a viable route.. More to come on this for sure. Long faces for Wizz later this year and smiles at RYR as they swoop to pick some of the cherries is my bet for late October.
FF

A very interesting question. We know much more about the financial status of many other airlines, but Wizzair is not being listed on financial market, hence they do not have to present any results to the public. For example we recognize the troubles of SkyEurope out there, but what about WIZZ? Generally, W6 has been perceived as bearing-up airline, due to their low-cost structure and good management style. How much impact the rise of fuel costs and the declining demand are having on their economy at present? I'm not very convinced to draw any conclusions based upon the route "jiggling" as long as these are made mostly in Ukraine, a new market that significantly differs from the EU market (including CE Europe). Low-cost flying is something the average citizen of Ukraine is probably still unaware of.

Any chance of Wizz coming to MAN?

hope so
 

heard on the grapevine it will be sooner rather than later

@ Flitefone

Did you ever do any business with ukrainians or Ukraine? Don't think so...

Does Ryanair fly to/from Ukraiane, Bulgaria or Romania? They will leave Hungary for the winter, only a few routes are overlapping in Poland. Why would they smile then even if something is happening with W6??

Hi TBSC, Yes have ben to Ukraine several times on (aviation) business, in fact all over the eastern block.

But thats not my point, as I said I think Wizz is showing signs of cash shortage - which will mean their shrinking business to preserve cash, which is what we have already seen this year.

I expect more giving up routes that are marginal for Wizz and which may be beneficial to RYR.

Either way my bet is you will start to see more evidence of cash shortage at Wizz and elsewhere at the end of the summer season when forward bookings and hence cash in the bank is at its lower mark.

Lets revisit this in November..

FF

Wizz air cut routes
 

Wizz Air has cut 3 flights a week from LPL's program Tuesdays and Thursdays is the final departure gonna be sooner than later for FS

What a "sensation"! Just put it here.

Kiev-Luton flights announced, starting 17 December. Initially 4 x weekly, going daily from 28 March 09.

Rumour: New routes from 15th January KBP to DTM and CGN and Lviv to LTN and DTM next year

News: News

From 10JAN:
KBP-DTM 4x, KBP-CGN 3x, LWO-DTM 3x, LWO-LTN 4x

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.

Sounds like a Ryanair press release :ok: 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 :ugh:

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....

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

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!

Stuck - I think you already answered this. It's because Etiuda is overcrowded, barely able to cope with the volume, and not a nice place to spend time. If I've paid very little for the flight I'll put up with grotty conditions. If I've paid a premium price for the flight, I want the airline to provide a quality product and the airport to be a comfortable environment.

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....

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.

I'm puzzled as to why you think Warsaw will lose its low-cost carriers (or at least until Modlin opens). Big city, lots of people, some money floating around. The centre of Warsaw is attractive so has inbound tourism as well.

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 ?

Oh, let's support Wizz a bit here (not making much noise) :ok:

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)

Wizz - a dark horse in Central-Eastern Europe? :rolleyes:

I bet SkyEurope and Czech Airlines aren't the happiest of campers today

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 and Wizz have a habit of avoiding each other too...
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.

Prg Ork
 

They might give Prague Cork a try, the load factors were quite good when CSA and EI operated the route. Perhaps Wizz could manage with lower yields than those two.

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

I believe that the Rome Govt insisted airlines to move at least some of their operations from Ciampino to Fiumicino because of things like noise levels, pollution, etc.... The airlines made a fuss, but eventually (apart from Ryanair) they did so in good grace.

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.

Wizzair have already launched Cork-Katowice, Gdansk, Warsaw and Poznan with absolutely no response from Ryanair. I don't see why it would be any different if they launched Cork-Prague.

en2r - my bad. You may well have a point there !