Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air is reintroducing its “All You Can Fly” membership program, allowing passengers unlimited flights throughout the year, while simultaneously launching trials of a new business class, reports Business Insider.
The program, now in its third edition, costs €499 per year (about $580) and is available in a limited number of 10,000 memberships for residents of 34 European and Middle Eastern countries. Although attractive to frequent flyers, each individual flight segment carries an additional fee of €9.99, and bookings can only be made up to 72 hours before departure, subject to seat availability. Wizz Air notes that the average member uses the pass nine times per year.
The airline’s Chief Commercial Officer Silvia Mosquera stated that “a large number of people who bought the All You Can Fly pass were not previously Wizz Air customers,” which she said confirmed the program’s potential to attract new travelers.
At the same time, the carrier plans to launch a pilot project for a business class product called “Wizz Class,” designed for business travelers seeking more comfort at an affordable price. The new product will not introduce different seats but will, as with traditional European airlines, leave the middle seat empty.
“I don’t expect us to have half the aircraft blocked, but more and more business passengers are requesting a little extra comfort,” said Michael Delehant, Wizz Air’s Chief Commercial and Operations Officer, adding that “Wizz Class is aimed at travelers who run small companies and want more space without paying first-class prices.”
Testing will begin in December on flights from five main hubs – Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw, Rome, and London – with the first row of the aircraft reserved for this new service, potentially including perks such as priority boarding.
The move comes as Wizz Air aims to attract a more profitable segment of passengers while facing challenges such as issues with Pratt & Whitney engines that have grounded 41 aircraft. The airline also shut down its Abu Dhabi operations in July due to geopolitical instability and regulatory difficulties. Wizz Air’s shares have fallen 24 percent since the start of the year.
