Wizz Air

[Ray Finkle]

Poznan is now bookable for S18, it's pretty much the same schedule as this year.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Wroclaw is now bookable for next summer giving us a full house

It's a bit of a relief considering other airports have seen routes dropped despite very good load factors.

 

[Brum X]

It will be good to see some new routes from Wizzair.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Looks like they are reducing flights at Bristol they have just taken SOF & WAW off sale from November now just leaving one route KTW

Hopefully this wont be repeated at BHX ?

In fact BHX may benefit as a result.

Ian

 

[Ray Finkle]

Nothing is bookable to Sofia past Nov 4th from any UK airport except Luton (BRS, DSA and BHX).

The 'Wizz Tours' website has Sofia stopping for Nov but returning 2x weekly in Dec before going back to 3x weekly in March but when you try and book a package it says 'no results found'.

I guess we'll find out in a few days if it's just website updating or yet more UK routes cut by Wizz.

All other BHX routes remain as they were, for now.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Wizz have added Malaga, Nice and Lisbon from Sofia starting in March.

I wonder if the aircraft are being redeployed from the UK to serve these or whether the system is just being updated?

http://newsroom.aviator.aero/wizz-air-announces-more-sunny-flights-from-sofia/

 

[Ray Finkle]

Wizz have confirmed on Twitter that Sofia is to be suspended, those booked have been offered flights from Luton.

With Ryanair seemingly starting Sofia in response to the arrival of Wizz it will be interesting to see if they stay on the route.

All these routes end at around the same time

DSA-SOF
BRS-SOF
BHX-SOF
BRS-WAW
GLA-WAW
BFS-KTW

 

[User001]

Wizz did say there would be some cuts to the UK network, I suppose we are starting to see this.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Yup and apparently there are more network reductions to come.

 

[Brum X]

Yup and apparently there are more network reductions to come.

Its a funny old industry aviation, flights always over 95% full and they cut flights. You have to ask sometimes "What more do airlines want ?"

 

[Finger66]

What you have to remember is that any load factor is irrelevant if the yield isnt right. A 95% LF could still over little or no profit, even a loss if seats are sold too cheaply. They may consider some UK routes saturated and see better yield in other markets

 

[58terminus]

Use smaller aircraft then.Why are they all operating 160/180 seat aircraft?

 

[Ray Finkle]

210 seats to Sofia as it was the first Wizz route to see an upgrade to the A321

 

[Brum X]

210 seats to Sofia as it was the first Wizz route to see an upgrade to the A321

Something is going on at Wizz and i dont think this is BHX related at all.

Maybe looking at buying Monarch ? LOL

 

[Brum X]

What you have to remember is that any load factor is irrelevant if the yield isnt right. A 95% LF could still over little or no profit, even a loss if seats are sold too cheaply. They may consider some UK routes saturated and see better yield in other markets

It appears what you have said is correct, just had this reply from Wizz.

"Dear Alan, our schedule will be reorganised and some flights have to be suspended. We know that it may cause some inconvenience but it will also help keeping our fares low. Please accept our sincere apologies if your travel plans are affected."

 

[Ray Finkle]

That could well be interpreted as 'we've had better offers from other airports which will help keep our fares low'.

Something is going on at Wizz and i dont think this is BHX related at all.

I'm not saying that these route cuts are directly related to Brexit but ever since the EU vote I've been kind of expecting it. I don't think it's a coincidence that Wizz went from considerable UK growth before the referendum to now be making cuts to their UK network. We just have to hope that BHX has shown enough promise to keep the rest.

 

[Jerry]

I think

That could well be interpreted as 'we've had better offers from other airports which will help keep our fares low'.



I'm not saying that these route cuts are directly related to Brexit but ever since the EU vote I've been kind of expecting it. I don't think it's a coincidence that Wizz went from considerable UK growth before the referendum to now be making cuts to their UK network. We just have to hope that BHX has shown enough promise to keep the rest.

it might just show that they depend completely on Eastern European passengers who tend to see the UK as a place to work not holiday. Not sure but I haven't heard of Ryanair cutting UK Eastern European routes so maybe they aren't as reliant on Eastern Europeans as Wizz.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Wizz have had S18 on sale for a while whereas Ryanair have only recently released their basic schedule. Without wanting to sound too pessimistic, there's still plenty of time for Ryanair changes, good or bad.

We shall see if Ryanair keep Sofia.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Glasgow - Bucharest can also be added to the cancellations list

I'm starting to feel as if we've got off quite lightly, so far.

 

[Jerry]

According to this article the Bulgaria flights weren't as successful as they thought they'd be so they chopped them.
http://m.novinite.com/articles/183512/WizzAir+Stops+Most+of+its+Flights+from+Bulgaria+to+the+UK