Wizz Air September capacity rises over 25% as carrier trims second-half plans

Wizz Air increased its seat capacity by more than 25% year-on-year in September, a larger rise than the 24.2% growth in passenger numbers over the same month. Load factor slipped 0.8 percentage points to 92%. The airline described the month as showing a notable improvement compared with earlier periods.

The growth comes as the Central European budget carrier takes what it calls a more disciplined approach to capacity. Earlier this month it said it had trimmed 5% from its originally planned capacity for the six months to 31 March 2027, citing geopolitical and fuel-price volatility.

Chief executive Josef Varadi has said the first half of fiscal 2027 would be the last period in which the airline was still receiving its originally planned aircraft deliveries from Airbus. Last year Wizz Air pushed back delivery of 88 aircraft into the next decade and set medium-term annual seat growth at about 10-12%.

After a stronger-than-expected summer revenue performance, the carrier raised its guidance for revenue per available seat kilometre for the quarter ended 30 September to flat, having previously forecast a decline in the low single digits.

Wizz Air is targeting revenue of EUR10 billion and an EBIT margin of 10% by fiscal 2030. Varadi said the plan is to operate an all-Neo fleet of 335 aircraft by then. The airline currently flies 276 Airbus A320 and A321 jets.