Photo: Shutterstock Low-cost Giant Exits Abu Dhabi. Wizz Air has announced a strategic and dramatic move, halting its local operations in Abu Dhabi starting from September 1, 2025, and gradually withdrawing from its joint venture there.
The decision comes as part of a renewed focus on the company's core markets in Central, Eastern, and Western Europe.
According to the company's statement, the changes result from a comprehensive assessment considering market challenges, operational constraints, and geopolitical developments in the Middle East. Some reasons cited include: engine reliability issues, harsh climate conditions, geopolitical instability, and regulatory limitations that have complicated regular operations and access to key markets.
Wizz Air intends to focus its operations in countries like Austria, Italy, and the United Kingdom with the aim of improving profitability and allocating resources to markets with long-term growth potential.
The company CEO, József Váradi, thanked the employees and emphasized, "We have made significant progress in the Middle East and are proud of what we have built. However, conditions have fundamentally changed, making continued operations challenging. It was not an easy decision, but the right one under the circumstances."
Passengers who purchased tickets for flights from/to Abu Dhabi after August 31 will be notified with options for refunds or alternative travel arrangements. Other flights of the Wizz Air group are unaffected by the change.
Wizz Air's decision to end its operations in Abu Dhabi comes shortly after the announcement of its return to Israel on August 8, 2025. Now, it will be interesting to see how the decision to exit the Middle East will impact the company's plans in Israel, both in terms of the routes operated from Ben Gurion Airport and the destinations themselves. Meanwhile, the route to Abu Dhabi, which was expected to operate as part of the return to Israel, will be canceled, leaving Etihad as the only airline providing direct flights between Ben Gurion Airport and the UAE capital.