European airline Wizz Air to form UK business with £630m fleet

European airline Wizz Air is creating hundreds of jobs with the launch a UK arm.

The company was awarded an Air Operator’s Certificate and Operating Licence by the Civil Aviation Authority to establish Wizz Air UK Limited.

Run as a subsidiary of Wizz Air Holdings Plc, the business will create 300 jobs across management, pilot and cabin crew roles.

Wizz Air UK Limited, headquartered at London Luton Airport, will have a fleet of eight new Airbus A320 and Airbus A321 aircraft in service by the end of 2018, representing an investment of over £630m.

The wider Wizz Air group will now offer almost nine million seats for passengers travelling to and from the UK.

Wizz Air UK will be the country’s eight biggest airline, flying to 74 destinations in 23 countries from nine UK airports. This will include eight new routes for 2018 from Luton.

Wizz Air chief exec József Váradi said: “Today marks the start of a new era in air travel in the United Kingdom, as we celebrate Wizz Air UK’s first flight following the approval of its UK operating licence.

“While Wizz Air UK is a key part of our Brexit contingency plan, it is also the first genuine ultra-low cost carrier licensed in the UK and the natural next-step in the development of our UK business, putting us in a strong position to take advantage of opportunities that may arise in what remains Europe’s largest travel market.”

He continued: “Wizz Air has been committed to the UK ever since our very first flight landed at London Luton in 2004 and our continued expansion will mean additional investment and jobs in the UK as we build our current position as the 8th largest airline operating in the UK.

“Everyone in the Wizz team is delighted to see operations begin under the Wizz Air UK flag, as we bring ever more low fare opportunities to our UK customers to explore our network of exciting destinations.”