MXP will be a 5-aircraft base and LCA will be home to another 2. All those seem to be relocated from elsewhere on the network. Rumours and unconfirmed hangar talk suggest that some of the pre-COVID Eastern European bases will be operating with fewer aircraft in the coming year, hence freeing up these aircraft for relocation. In today's announcement though it was suggested that a net fleet growth of 14 aircraft in the next year was still on the cards. Could that potentially mean that (at least some of) the ex-Confair guys might be offered local contracts?

About half of those fired were Confair, the other half local contracts. Why would the ex Confair have any priority?
It is true that they expect the downsizing of a few bases, hence I don't expect many will be rehired soon.
Possibly the growth will be for the new Abu Dhabi operation, which is a new legal entity, who knows.

I wonder whether it is in line with EZY downsizing by 51 aircraft? JV hoping for a vacuum it might create? dirk85, do you perhaps know the size of EZY ops in MXP?

On another note crew morale is really low amongst who managed to stay in WZZ. Everyone is looking over their shoulders. Ppl are honestly scared of a second wave of redundancies with the current job market as it is. Most will sign anything put in front of them if it ensures job security or at least making them think so. This situation will definitely take a toll on both safety and training culture in the long run, I'm afraid.

Well, that's what you get without industrial representation, i guess.

After flying in many parts of the world, I can tell you industrial representation means nothing as it is right now in Europe. And you will see what I mean in the next months if you still need proof.
I have had MUCH better treatment at companies with no representation but with a management and a Ceo (capital C) who actually cares. Harder and hared to fond I know.

The Head Of Safety & Compliance was recently demoted to a manager position.

Maybe it was a good strategy :ok:
Wizz has been trying for a long time to open a base in Italy, but has faced some "challenges" -> they sent a "signal" to Italy and look! They managed to open MXP :ok:
And then, maybe re-hire some italians for MXP...

blablabla

speak for yourself but in decent companies the unions actually do some good work in keeping up t&c’s while the boys and girls in the “free market” are offering there first born to get a shot at command. You actually see it atm. KLM/LH/AF/EI all negotiate with management for the best outcome where the lowcosters (and BA) are using this crisis to decrease any conditions to the bottom for ever.

The first A320neo, HA-LJA, is being taken delivery of today.

Fresh article by Euro Cockpit:

https://stories.eurocockpit.be/a-fea...gue/index.html

Having previously worked both in a unionized environment and in companies likes of WZZ i must say both had their pro-s and con-s. Regarding the current situation in Europe however i must agree with you, I'm afraid. If the guys and gals couldn't get together until now it is going to be close to impossible in post-covid times.

The exact reason why I think that any future re-hiring of those who were made redundant in April will start from the Confair pool, with a local contract being offered. As I understand it, the Confair/floating contracts were dismissed simply because they were contractors, hence more expensive to keep. They weren't "graded" in any way. However, those with local contracts who got dismissed were classified as underperforming (by whatever criteria that involves) and this quite probably makes them unlikely to be recalled anytime soon.

Contractors were not more expensive in Wizzair. Bottom line was the same irrespectively of the type of contract.

They were just easier and cheaper to let go - no need for long notice periods and severance packages as for local contract guys.

So there we go. Something else I can think about is that the floating base contract had accommodation included for the 20 days of duty. It was no longer offered to newly hired crew after some point - and now it no longer exists as such. So, wherever you are based, commuting or not - the accommodation is on you. That's another cost-cutting measure, if my logic is right.

Also since 5/4 is canned at most bases having local crew on random roster eliminates the need of floaters in the long run. Should things get back to norm, a big IF imho, there won't be a shortage of volunteers to fly on their offdays should requested. Rumor circulating that refusing to fly during off days was one of the so called "performance factors" listed as an excuse to let someone go...terrible times ahead for the industry.

And another base announced today - Salzburg, starting 20 July. Judging by the number of destinations, it won't be a big one. One or maximum two aircraft.

And Tirana too.

SZG is not a base, just opened as destination with 6 new routes to SZG from Belgrade, Bucharest, Tuzla, Kiev, Larnaca and Skopje.

New based was opened today in Tirana with 3 based aircraft. Starting from 1st of July.

Hence, what number of aircraft is expected to be deployed in July? More than half of them, it appears?

Easyjet in MXP has 21 planes based plus 3 spares.