Wizz Air is preparing to return to the Ukrainian market: what passengers can expect
In particular, the company is actively recruiting new pilots and holding a virtual information session for candidates, during which they explain the working conditions in Ukraine.
On 25 March, an advertisement appeared on the company’s pages with the message: “Ukraine, we are coming home”. The post contained a link to register for a special online meeting for pilots, which was the first clear indication of the airline’s intention to return to the Ukrainian market.
The registration form for pilots covered pay conditions, crew rostering, staff bonuses and changes to the candidate selection process. One of the questions also asked whether candidates were willing to work specifically in Ukraine, which underscores the seriousness of the company’s intentions.
Wizz Air had previously stated that it plans to station 15 aircraft in Ukraine within two years of a peace agreement being signed, and that this number could rise to 50 within seven years. The company’s CEO, József Váradi, noted that the company is ready to resume flights quickly once airspace is reopened.
It is predicted that the resumption of flights to Ukraine will present a major opportunity for the development of ‘disaster tourism’, as well as for the return of people to the country. Furthermore, other low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair and EasyJet, are also exploring the possibility of launching flights to Ukraine. At the same time, the companies assure that they will be able to resume flights as soon as it is safe to do so.
It should be recalled that the escalation of the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has caused widespread disruption to air travel, the closure of key hubs in the Persian Gulf and a sharp rise in oil prices. Against this backdrop, the share prices of airlines and tour operators worldwide have fallen significantly.
