Wizz Air closing its Prague base

The low-cost airline Wizz Air will cancel its base at Václav Havel Airport Prague in mid-June and will limit the number of lines there to three. The reason is low demand, a press release stated.

“Wizz Air is constantly evaluating its routes and services so that it can offer the lowest possible prices and best service on board one of the youngest fleets in Europe. After careful consideration, we decided to adjust the Czech flight plan and shift capacity to other Wizz Airlines with higher demand, " Wizz Air business director George Michalopoulos said.

The company, which currently has one aircraft in Prague, now offers nine routes from Prague to destinations including Reykjavik, Tel Aviv, Milan and Venice.

From June 14, three lines will remain: London - Luton; Bari, Italy; and Kutaisi, Georgia. The frequency of flights on these lines will not change.

Customers who have lost their existing booking due to these changes should contact Wizz Air. It is offering alternative flights or compensation of 120 percent of the original ticket price.

Wizz Air employees in Prague will be offered work in another location, including relocation assistance.

Wizz Air is the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe. It operates a fleet of 88 Airbus A320 and Airbus A321 aircraft and has more than 550 routes from 28 locations connecting 145 destinations in 44 countries.

Wizz Air is legally incorporated as Wizz Air Hungary Ltd., with its head office in Budapest. It has the largest fleet of any Hungarian airline, although it is not a flag carrier. Its Jersey-based parent company, Wizz Air Holdings Plc, is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

Despite the loss of Wizz Air’s base, Václav Havel Airport Prague has been doing well. It saw more than 15 million passengers per year for the first time in its 80 year history, making 2017 the most successful year ever. The record was set Dec. 21 shortly after midnight.

The airport became one of the fastest growing airports in Europe for airports handling 10-25 million passengers a year.

The airport cannot expand the number of passengers much more unless renovations and upgrades are made. A plan for investment to make the expansion is in place.

Václav Havel Airport Prague opened April 5, 1937 as Prague Ruzyně Airport.

Right after former president Václav Havel's death on Dec. 18, 2011, an online petition organized by Slovak film director Fero Fenič asked the government and the Parliament to rename Prague Ruzyně Airport to Václav Havel International Airport. This name change took place Oct. 5, 2012, on what would have been Havel's 76th birthday.