Wizz Air’s new Middle Eastern operation is to focus initially on the eastern Mediterranean and Caucasus when it commences services in October.
The new venture, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, will station two Airbus A321neo in the United Arab Emirates capital.
But this fleet will be expanded to six aircraft in the first six months.
The airline says it will open six routes including Alexandria in Egypt – which is also set to be served by Air Arabia’s own Abu Dhabi budget start-up, from 14 July.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will serve Athens and Larnaca, the Armenian capital Yerevan, and Kutaisi in Georgia, plus the Ukrainian city of Odessa.
Further destinations will be unveiled as the locally-based A321neo fleet increases.
The airline has already started developing a European network to serve Abu Dhabi, offering fares from Bucharest, Budapest, Sofia, Katowice and Cluj-Napoca.
Wizz Air is setting up the Middle Eastern venture in co-operation with diverse UAE holding company ADQ.
“I’m confident Wizz Air will make a profound impact on the UAE’s economic development and the ramp-up of its tourism industry,” says Wizz chief executive Jozsef Varadi.
Air Arabia has joined with UAE operator Etihad Airways for its Abu Dhabi operation.
