Wizz Air to launch first low cost flights to Ukraine

[October 8th 2008]

Low cost airline Wizz Air is set to launch what it says will be the first low cost flights between the UK and Ukraine.

Flights from Luton airport to Kiev Boryspil airport will start on December 17th with one way all-inclusive fares from £29 (plus £40 air passenger duty on the Luton to Kiev leg). Initially flights will operate four times a week, but then go daily from March 28th next year.

"Wizz Air’s launch of the London – Kiev route is a milestone in the aviation between Europe and Ukraine as it is the very first international low cost service to Ukraine," says Wizz Air chief commercial officer, John Stephenson.

"So far it has been a very protective market with high fares and no service alternatives. British travellers are already well familiar with Wizz Air’s services, as we offer flights to 12 CEE destinations from the UK. Now Ukrainians can enjoy our low fares and reliable service on our brand new Airbus A320 aircraft and the freedom of choice," Stephenson adds.

Wizz Air says the new flights will give Ukrainians visiting, living or working in the UK, as well as British tourists and business people, the opportunity to experience low cost travel rather than travel with the “high fare monopolists” that have been operating on the route.

Wizz Air claims to be the largest low cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, carrying 5.5 million passengers in the last 12 months. It operates flights from Poland, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania to a large number of European destinations, and recently began domestic services in Ukraine.

Last month the budget airline announced it was adding three new Airbus A320 aircraft and doubling its capacity in Romania in the next six months. The first new aircraft will operate from Wizz Air’s new base at Timisoara in Romania from February 2009. Routes from Timisoara include London, Barcelona, Paris, Milan and Venice.

Wizz Air plans to carry more than 1.7 million passengers in Romania in 2009, double the number in 2008. "This expansion is a major step forward for us to gain and sustain market leadership in Romania,” says Wizz Air chief executive officer, József Váradi. “"I am confident that the ongoing consolidation in the airline industry will yield even more opportunities for Wizz Air,” he adds.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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