Wizz Air UK, the British subsidiary of the low-cost airline group, has launched a regulatory process that could open the door to the U.S. market. At the end of January, the company submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) seeking approval to operate passenger flights between the United Kingdom and the United States.
The application is based on the provisions of the bilateral Open Skies agreement from 2020, which allows for liberalized air traffic between the two countries. In the submitted documentation, Wizz Air UK states that it is seeking the right to operate both scheduled and charter services. An additional factor highlighted is that the chairman of WA Holdings, the group’s ownership structure, William Franke, is a U.S. citizen.
This move follows an unsuccessful attempt in 2022, when Wizz Air applied to the DOT for permission to operate cargo services in the United States. That request faced strong opposition from pilot unions and ultimately failed to receive regulatory approval.
A potential entry by Wizz Air into transatlantic passenger operations would mark a clear departure from the policy the company had publicly advocated for years. As recently as 2023, CEO József Váradi dismissed the possibility of expanding into North America in an interview with AeroTime. In the meantime, however, the group’s strategy has been significantly adjusted, as reflected in its withdrawal from certain Middle Eastern markets and changes in capacity allocation.
The fleet plays a key role in this shift. Wizz Air UK currently operates 21 aircraft from the Airbus A321neo family, including three A321XLRs. This aircraft type, with a range sufficient for transatlantic routes from Western Europe, enables an operating model that has so far not been feasible for low-cost carriers. In the coming period, the delivery of an additional eight A321XLR aircraft is expected, which would further increase the operational potential for services to the United States.
If Wizz Air UK were to launch regular routes to the U.S., it could have a significant impact on competitive dynamics in the transatlantic market. Despite the large number of existing flights between the United Kingdom and the United States, there is currently no carrier operating these routes under a low-cost model.
