Finance
US tentatively approves budget carrier wizz air's request to operate UK-US flights
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 5, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 5, 2026
Quick Summary
The U.S. Department of Transportation has granted tentative approval to Wizz Air UK to operate flights between the UK and U.S., pending a 21-day comment period before a final decision is made. The airline aims initially for charter services, leveraging its Airbus A321XLR fleet under the Open Skies A
US tentatively approves budget carrier Wizz Air's request to operate UK-US flights
Tentative Approval for Wizz Air's UK-US Operations
By David Shepardson
Background and Application Details
WASHINGTON, March 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Transportation Department on Thursday granted tentative approval for budget carrier Wizz Air to operate flights between the UK and the U.S., saying it was in the public interest.
In January, the UK subsidiary of Wizz Air Holdings petitioned for a foreign air carrier permit to operate flights between the two countries "as soon as possible." USDOT said it was granting tentative approval but will give any opponents 21 days to file objections which it will consider before making a final decision.
Open Skies Agreement and Permit Duration
Wizz Air UK is seeking the permission to launch passenger services under the 2020 Air Transport Agreement between the two countries, known as the Open Skies Agreement. If granted final authorization, it will be effective for two years from the date of approval.
Wizz Air's Previous Attempts and Market Position
Earlier Application for All-Cargo Flights
This is the second attempt by the carrier to enter the U.S. markets, after its Hungary operations applied for a foreign air carrier permit to operate all-cargo flights to the U.S. in 2022.
Growth Opportunities for Wizz Air
Rising Tourism and US City Destinations
As global tourism spending rises, Wizz’s low‑cost model is well-placed to benefit from Europeans’ growing interest in U.S. cities such as Nashville and Boise.
Impact of Political and Economic Trends
The trend follows immigration crackdowns and rising trade tensions under the Trump administration which have slowed travel to traditional tourism hotspots in the world’s largest travel economy.
Upcoming Events and Business Optimism
Businesses are also banking on the upcoming soccer World Cup to boost travel to the U.S.
Financial Outlook and CEO Comments
Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi told Reuters this week the airline expects to limit a financial hit from the Iran conflict to its fiscal year ending this month, told Reuters, with the
pressure set to ease from April after a profit warning slammed the budget airline's shares.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio)
Key Takeaways
- •Wizz Air UK applied on January 23, 2026, for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit and exemption to operate both charter and scheduled services under the 2020 UK–US Open Skies Agreement (dmnewsenglish.co.uk).
- •The tentative approval by USDOT allows for comments during a 21-day period before final approval is granted (the-independent.com).
- •Wizz Air plans to use its Airbus A321-family, notably long-range A321XLRs, for initial charter operations, with potential to expand into scheduled transatlantic services later (journal-aviation.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about US tentatively approves budget carrier Wizz Air's request to operate UK-US flights
1What decision did the U.S. Transportation Department make regarding Wizz Air?
The U.S. Transportation Department granted tentative approval for Wizz Air to operate flights between the UK and the US.
2Which subsidiary of Wizz Air applied for the flight permit?
Wizz Air's UK subsidiary petitioned for the foreign air carrier permit.
3How long will USDOT consider objections before making a final decision?
USDOT will consider potential objections for 21 days before making a final decision.
4When did Wizz Air's UK subsidiary submit the permit request?
The permit request was submitted in January.
