Wizz Air seeks UK operating licence ahead of Brexit
Central and Eastern European budget carrier Wizz Air has applied for a UK operating licence.
If it is granted an Air Operator’s Certificate and Operating Licence by the CAA, the airline said it will begin operations in the UK in March 2018 with several UK-registered aircraft.
Its Luton base will become a Wizz Air UK operation, which will employ more than 100 managers, pilots and cabin crew by the end of next year.
Routes not taken over by Wizz Air UK will continue to be operated by Wizz Air Hungary.
The airline said it would continue to expand the group’s network of 41 routes from Luton.
CEO Jozsef Varadi said: "We are pleased to announce that we are seeking a UK AOC and Operating Licence, further signalling our commitment to the important UK market.
"It is a natural, next-step in the development of our UK business and will bring additional investment and jobs to our UK base at London Luton. The UK remains the single biggest travel market in Europe and we are currently the UK’s eighth largest operator and this move is also part of our broader strategy to ensure that our UK operations are Brexit-ready.
"We look forward to working with the CAA to take this application forward."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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