Wizz Air strikes support deal with Pratt & Whitney as 40 aircraft remain grounded
January 2, 2025
Despite facing operational headwinds Hungarian low-cost carrier (LCC), Wizz Air, expects to return to growth in 2026 after agreeing a support and compensation deal with US engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney.
Ongoing engine issues have led to Wizz Air having to ground some of its fleet with 40 of the LCCs A320neo aircraft expected to stay grounded through fiscal year 2026.
Commercial and operational support
The deal with Pratt & Whitney will see the engine supplier carry out the required checks and provide commercial support to Wizz Air. This includes operational assistance and a compensation package to address the direct costs associated with the grounded aircraft. Operating an all Airbus fleet, the grounding of Wizz Air’s aircraft follows Pratt & Whitney’s 2023 announcement that more than 1,000 engines needed to be removed from Airbus aircraft and checked for microscopic cracks.
A statement from Wizz Air read: “The company continues to take action to mitigate the impact of the grounded aircraft and continue to work with Pratt & Whitney to return them to operation as soon as possible.”
On course for growth
Wizz’s operations have also been impacted by the conflict in the Middle East. However, despite these headwinds, the airline still plans to double its fleet to 500 aircraft by 2030 under its “WIZZ 500 vision” and is targeting 20% passenger growth over the next year. The airline, which currently operates a fleet of just over 200 aircraft, is due to take delivery of 50 new A321neo aircraft in 2025-26.
Last month the airline added a 14th aircraft, an Airbus A321neo, to its base at Warsaw Chopin and launched three new routes from the Polish capital to Dortmund in Germany, Bucharest in Romania and Pisa in Italy. Two more A321neo aircraft are set to join the airline’s Warsaw fleet in summer 2025.
