Wizz Air
has announced its Q3 FY25 results, detailing that Airbus made adjustments to the carrier’s delivery schedule, forcing the airline to slash its fleet forecast by 75 aircraft at the end of FY28 in March 2028.
Changing delivery schedules
On January 30, Wizz Air, which announced its Q3 FY25 results for the three-month fiscal period that ended on December 31, 2024, the carrier stated that Airbus
has revised its delivery schedule, resulting in 137 Airbus A321neo
deliveries over the next three years.
As a result, with the current planned lease returns, its fleet is now forecasted to grow from 230 aircraft at the end of March to 305 at the end of March 2028, compared to the previous forecast of 380 aircraft at the end of the latter date.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
Wizz Air ended Q3 FY25 with 226 aircraft, with the low-cost carrier taking delivery of four A321neos and retiring two A320ceos
, which were redelivered to their lessors. Furthermore, the Hungary-based company ended its wet lease agreements that covered its fleet shortfalls due to the accelerated Pratt & Whitney
PW1100G removals and inspections.
During the rest of FY2025, which will end on March 31, Wizz Air plans to welcome eight new A321neo aircraft, including its first A321XLR
. Four A320ceo aircraft will leave the fleet, the airline noted.
At the end of the quarter, the average number of seats per aircraft climbed to 226, up one compared to Q2 FY25 and three over the past 12 months. In addition, 64% of Wizz Air’s fleet and 68% of its capacity, measured in seats, were the next-generation A320neo family aircraft.
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József Váradi’s comments came at the Warwick Economics Summit on Saturday.
Eyeing other engines
Wizz Air detailed that currently, there are no changes to the projected 40 aircraft on ground (AOG) throughout FY26. However, the airline pointed out that this could change with the current negotiations to select the engines for 177 A321neo aircraft that are in its backlog. Its total backlog is 307 aircraft, split between 260 A321neo and 47 A321XLR, some of which had been ordered with the PW1100G
.
“In terms of the ongoing management of this, important considerations relating to increased access to spare engines and additional engineering shop slots are part of an ongoing tender related to the selection for engines for 177 A321neos. Management expects that these negotiations will be concluded by the end of the current quarter.”
The A320neo aircraft family can be powered by either the PW1100G, also known as the Geared Turbofan (GTF), or the CFM International LEAP-1A
. Ch-aviation data showed that all of Wizz Air’s A320neo family aircraft, including the A320neo aircraft family fleets of its subsidiaries’ in Malta, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United Kingdom (UK), have PW1100Gs mounted on their wings.
Photo: OLEG PLESHKOV | Shutterstock
Still, Wizz Air finalized a new commercial support agreement with Pratt & Whitney at the end of 2024, which will cover the calendar years in 2025 and 2026. The compensation package will cover the airline’s direct costs associated with the around 40 grounded aircraft.
József Váradi, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Wizz Air, said that the carrier had continued navigating a complex operating environment in Q3 FY25 due to its grounded A320neo and A321neo aircraft.
“This is reflected in our unit cost performance, with Q3 ex-fuel CASK [cost per available seat mile excluding fuel – ed. note] up 17% year-on-year [YoY], given the multiple inefficiencies these groundings generate across a number of our cost lines.
Demand remaining positive
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Demand remaining positive
Still, Váradi remarked that demand remained positive at the beginning of Q4 FY25, and January and February revenue per available seat kilometer (RASK) continues to be within the low double-digit range, underpinned by bookings being 3% up YoY.
“However, given the fact that Easter in 2025 will fall in our Q126 quarter, our Q425 run rate to date will be diluted as March is further booked. To date, our Q4 is circa 62% booked, with RASK up 8.3% year-on-year.”
The CEO mentioned that Wizz Air’s executives believe that the end of FY25 is an important inflection point for the airline, which will transition into a sustained period of growth throughout the 2030s.
Photo: MBekir | Shutterstock
“Our confirmed aircraft orders provide a clear pathway for sustained growth, giving us a competitive advantage in the medium-term. Our recently adjusted Airbus delivery schedule underpins this ambition, especially when factoring in the return our grounded fleet to the air over the next two years.”
Váradi concluded that its annual capacity growth of between 15% and 20% over the next five years will facilitate the carrier’s network densification, allowing it to protect and expand leading positions in its core markets. This should result in a return to historic net margins and an investment-grade balance sheet.
Wizz Air ended Q3 FY25 with revenues of €1.1 billion ($1.1 billion), an operating loss of €75.9 million ($78.9 million), and a net loss of €241.1 million ($250.8 million).
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Wizz Air said that going forward, fewer than expected A320neo family aircraft will be grounded due to the PW1100G removals and inspections.
