Wizz Air’s UK division seeks US Approval for Transatlantic flights

The UK division of the budget carrier, Wizz Air, is seeking authorisation to launch transatlantic flights to U.S. destinations.

Wizz Air Applies for U.S. Regulatory Approval

Wizz Air UK has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for approval to operate flights between the United Kingdom and the United States, a move that would clear the regulatory path for the budget airline to launch transatlantic services.

The carrier has requested a foreign air carrier permit to allow it to offer scheduled and charter services between the countries under the U.S.-UK open skies agreement of 2020. The airline has also asked for the process to be expedited, stating it wants the flexibility to begin operations as soon as possible, once approvals are granted.

This was not the first time Wizz Air UK had applied to the DOT, as in January 2022, the airline applied for the foreign air carrier permit. The application was turned down due to opposition by several pilot unions.

Wizz Air UK has not produced a specified launch timeline, route schedules or aircraft assignments in its application, noting that its services will depend on seasonal demand and the chartering organisation. The airline claims the authorisation will create “increased travel choices, greater service options, and enhanced competition”, benefiting both UK and U.S. passengers.

The carrier emerged in 2017 as a spin-off from Central European operator Wizz Air, and was created to mitigate the negative effects of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

A321XLR Fleet for the Transatlantic Strategy

Wizz Air UK currently operates a fleet of 21 Airbus A321-family aircraft, including three long-range A321XLRs.

The application comes as the wider Wizz Air group continues to reposition the Airbus A321XLR as a key growth platform for its UK operations. In November, Wizz Air reduced its XLR commitment from 47 aircraft to 11 and deferred nearly 90 Airbus deliveries by three years as it recalibrates fleet growth and prolonged Pratt & Whitney GTF engine difficulties.

CEO József Váradi has said the future XLR fleet will largely be ‘limited to the UK,’ describing the country as a ‘significant market opportunity’ after the airline exited its Abu Dhabi joint venture and pulled back from ‘hot and harsh’ operating environments that accelerate engine wear.

Wizz Air has never operated scheduled transatlantic flights, but the A321XLR’s range and economics make shorter UK-U.S. routes viable for low-cost operators.

What do you think about Wizz Air UK’s application to the U.S. for Transatlantic flights? Let us know in the comments below.