Wizz Air has decided to close its base at Vienna Airport due to rising taxes and ground handling costs. The two-stage withdrawal will be part of the airline’s strategic restructuring.
Rising Costs as the Main Reason
Wizz Air announced that it will end its operations in Vienna in March 2026. The decision is reported to be driven by increased tax burdens and higher ground handling expenses.
CEO Mauro Peneda commented:
“The cost base at Vienna Airport, including taxes and ground services, has risen significantly since our launch, making continued operations unsustainable.”
Two-Stage Withdrawal Plan
The airline will halt operations in two stages:
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26 October 2025: Withdrawal of two aircraft and termination of the Bilbao and London Gatwick routes.
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March 2026: Closure of the remaining three aircraft and associated routes.
Response from Vienna Airport
Vienna Airport expressed regret over the decision and reminded that it plans to reduce terminal fees starting in 2026.
The airport management stated:
“Vienna Airport is a high-quality and highly competitive location compared to many other airports. However, costs such as state air travel taxes play a decisive role in international competition. These taxes do not exist in neighboring Hungary and Slovakia.”
Strategic Restructuring
Wizz Air’s exit from Vienna is part of the company’s global restructuring process.
In July 2025, the airline had already decided to close its loss-making Abu Dhabi base.
Going forward, the airline will focus more on the Eastern and Central European market.
Additionally, a July announcement stated that the airline would resume full-capacity operations in Israel as of September 2025.
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