Finance
Budget carrier Wizz Air seeks US entry after Middle East retreat
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
Wizz Air seeks US flight permission after closing its Abu Dhabi base, indicating a shift in its expansion strategy, Bloomberg reports.
Jan 26 (Reuters) - Wizz Air has sought U.S. approval to operate flights between the UK and the United States, as the budget carrier aims to tap the lucrative transatlantic market after scaling back its Middle East expansion plans last year.
The airline's UK subsidiary has petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation for an exemption and foreign air carrier permit to operate scheduled and chartered flights between the two countries, requesting authority to begin services "as soon as possible", a filing dated Friday showed.
Wizz Air UK was seeking the permission to launch passenger services under the 2020 Air Transport Agreement between the two countries, known as the Open Skies Agreement.
The carrier said it initially intends to conduct only passenger charter service based on seasonal and customer demand, though it was seeking broader authority for future scheduled flights.
The airline had said in July last year it was exiting its loss-making Abu Dhabi operations to focus on its main eastern European market as escalating political tensions in the Middle East wiped out its ambition of expansion in the region.
The airline declined to comment. The U.S. DoT did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
A budget carrier is an airline that offers low fares and fewer amenities compared to traditional airlines, often charging extra for services like checked baggage and in-flight meals.
International capital refers to funds that are invested across national borders, often in the form of foreign direct investment or portfolio investment in foreign assets.
Expansion in business refers to the process of increasing the size, scope, or reach of a company, which can include entering new markets or increasing production capacity.
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