Budget carrier doubles passenger numbers in 2022

The budget airline carried 45.7 million passengers in the year to 31 December 2022 on a load factor of 86.7%, up from 21.7 million a year earlier when load factor was 75.2%.

Wizz’s rolling full-year outlook came as it reported its December 2022 traffic figures, which saw it a record 4.2 million carryings, up by 58.5% from 2.6 million in December 2021. Load factor in December was 84.5%, up from 75.4% in December 2021.

In December, Wizz launched flights from Italy and Austria to Saudi Arabia, and opened a new base in Suceava, Romania.

It also based additional aircraft in Iasi and Sofia, and announced plans to station extra aircraft in Rome, Vienna, Warsaw, Tirana, Kutaisi and Belgrade, adding: "All additional aircraft will operate new routes and increased frequencies from 2023."