After a two-year hiatus, Wizz Air is reopening its base in Tuzla, further strengthening its presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Eastern Europe.
On this occasion, Wizz Air Hungary CEO Roland Tišner spoke to Fena news agency about the strategic importance of Tuzla for the company, plans for new routes, and expectations from this market.
He says that Tuzla is a very interesting location for Wizz Air and that it represents a key point in Central and Eastern Europe.
“We originally opened the base ten years ago, but due to operational and economic factors we temporarily closed it. We now consider Tuzla to be a key point in Central and Eastern Europe. We are increasing our business in the Eastern European market and Tuzla, like Bosnia, is strategically important for our plans. We are currently focused on the first base aircraft arriving in December, with the second one coming in March. I do not want to speculate on further plans. We are optimistic and see the market as very positive, and Tuzla offers many opportunities for development, both for visiting friends and family, as well as for city tourism and holidays,” said Tišner.
He adds that their goal, in addition to their own interests, is to contribute to the local economy.
“Most passengers come to visit family and friends, but we also expect a significant number of tourists who will use the routes for city breaks or holidays. Our goal is to increase the number of destinations visited and contribute to the local economy. That is why we have also introduced a route to Larnaca, for tourism,” said the director of Wizz Air Hungary.
He emphasizes that the cooperation with local authorities and airport staff is extremely good and that they know this market.
“We have been present here for 13 years and see the potential for further development. We focus on stable and quality service, and we plan all new routes according to operational capabilities and demand. In addition to the airlines, we will employ 100 people directly, and about 500 more indirectly,” said Tišner.
For now, he says, the priority is to establish a base with two aircraft and stabilize operations.
“We will announce further projects when the time is right, but we can say that Tuzla has great potential and that we expect an increase in the number of routes in the coming years,” Tišner said.
He added that two new Airbus A321neo aircraft will be stationed in Tuzla, which are the most modern narrow-body aircraft on the market, energy-efficient and with significantly lower noise and CO₂ emissions, and that they expect to transport an additional 500,000 passengers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Tuzla will be the hub of operations in the country.
As of December 12, Wizz Air, as announced, is launching four routes – to Cologne, Hamburg, Maastricht and Malmö – while additional destinations will follow from March, including Berlin, Paris and Larnaca in Cyprus. Tickets are already available at prices ranging from 20 to 28 euros per flight.
Wizz Air currently owns 241 aircraft, and the average age of the fleet is only 4.5 years, which is among the youngest in Europe. The company plans to expand its fleet to more than 500 aircraft by 2030 and continues to invest in improving passenger relations, more flexible fares and sustainable technologies.
By opening a base in Tuzla, Wizz Air becomes the largest airline in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with nine routes from Tuzla and a total of 17 routes from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
