Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADDHC) signed an agreement with Wizz Air to launch a lost-cost airline Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. Wizz Air is Europe’s greenest airline and the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe.
The new airline Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will be based out of Abu Dhabi. It will have a potential reach of five billion passengers, according to media reports.
The launch will mark Wizz’s expansion outside of Europe. Wizz Air will start operations in the second half of 2020. The new airline is subject to government approval, including air operator’s certificate. The new airline’s planned routes will cover all of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
The two airlines have chosen the United Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi as a base for Wizz Air. Wizz will own 49 percent of the new airline and Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company will have 51 percent.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports, told the media that, “As Abu Dhabi International Airport continues its growth as a major gateway to the UAE and the wider region, we welcome contribution airlines, such as this new airline, and the impact this partnership will make to our continued national economic development. We look forward to building a highly successful partnership with them in the years to come.”
Wizz is a Hungarian-based airline with more than 100 aircraft connecting passengers across Europe. The routes include the UK, Norway, Iceland and Portugal among others.