Wizz Air Focuses on Ad Hoc Transatlantic Flights

CEO says airline has no plans for regular scheduled service across the Atlantic

Jan. 29, 2026 at 6:31am

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Wizz Air, the European low-cost carrier, has applied for permission to fly between the United Kingdom and the United States, but its CEO Jozsef Varadi says the airline does not plan to offer regular scheduled transatlantic service. Instead, Varadi says the flights would be on an ad hoc basis, such as transporting sports teams to events like the World Cup or 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Why it matters

This move by Wizz Air signals the airline is looking to capitalize on opportunistic travel demand, particularly around major sporting events, rather than committing to a full-scale transatlantic network. It reflects the continued uncertainty and volatility in the aviation industry as it recovers from the pandemic.

The details

Wizz Air applied for permission to fly between the UK and US earlier in January 2026. Varadi says the airline would use these rights to operate flights on an ad hoc basis, such as transporting sports teams to events like the World Cup or 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. However, Varadi stressed Wizz Air has no plans to offer regular scheduled service on transatlantic routes.

  • Wizz Air applied for permission to fly between the UK and US in early January 2026.
  • The 2028 Olympics are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles.

The players

Wizz Air

A European low-cost airline based in Hungary.

Jozsef Varadi

The Chief Executive Officer of Wizz Air.

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What they’re saying

“This would be very opportunistic in a way.”

— Jozsef Varadi, CEO (Reuters)

The takeaway

Wizz Air is taking a cautious approach to transatlantic expansion, focusing on ad hoc flights to transport sports teams and fans rather than committing to a regular scheduled service. This reflects the continued uncertainty in the aviation industry as it recovers from the pandemic's impacts.