Wizz Air Abu Dhabi on Friday launched operations from its base at Abu Dhabi International with a flight to Athens, a day after the UAE’s newest low-fare carrier said it would also become the next Gulf-based airline to fly to Tel Aviv, starting on February 12. The airline next plans to start service to Thessaloniki, Greece, on February 4.
Greece appears on Abu Dhabi’s list of so-called “green” countries to which it allows travel due to their relatively favorable epidemiological situations, specifically related to Covid-19.
Wizz Air initially announced a route network including Alexandria, Egypt; Kutaisi, Georgia; Larnaca, Cyprus; Odesa, Ukraine; and Yerevan, Armenia. The airline now says it will launch flights to those destinations as each joins the green countries list, followed by further cities as the airline adds to its four-strong A321neo fleet over the coming months.
The new airline, a joint venture between Budapest-based Wizzair and Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADQ), tentatively had planned to launch service on October 1, some three weeks after it staged a celebration of the arrival of its first A321neo, but Covid-related travel restrictions at its desired destinations forced a delay.
Wizz Air also said Thursday that it issued a €500 million debut bond to further strengthen its liquidity position. Expected to close on January 19, the offering takes advantage of a strong underlying financing market and what Wizz Air called highly attractive pricing.