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World Aviation Festival: ATC and engine issues require adaptable approach, says Wizz Air boss

The aviation supply chain remains more challenging than ever forcing business models to become more resilient, the boss of Wizz Air told World Aviation Festival.

Speaking at the event in Amsterdam this week, József Váradi picked out problems with OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and Air Traffic Control (ATC) as particular issues.

Váradi said ATC has “completely failed to integrate on a European scale” because countries continue to view it as a matter of international sovereignty rather than as something that requires operational efficiency.

Flights volumes using Hungary airspace are up 42% due to the closure of Russian airspace because of the war in Ukraine but the country has fewer human ATC resources than pre-COVID, claimed Váradi. “It’s very political, and I can’t see how on earth we can correct this.”

Váradi said one key learning from the last few years is that you must have slack in the system both in terms of aircraft and crewing. He said Wizz makes sure it is maintaining the “core discipline of fleet utilisation”.

“Implementation of operational strategies has to be sensitive to changing realities. It’s a lot more stressful than ever before,” said Váradi.

Although Wizz Air’s fleet has been “growing tremendously” the carrier currently has 20% of its fleet grounded due to ongoing issues with its Pratt & Whitney engines related to contaminated metal powder prompting unplanned mandated inspections.

Váradi said: “Pratt & Whitney is a cycle that we have to go through. It’s probably bottomed out and it will improve. It will continue to drag over the next few years.

“We want to overlook this issue and put the fundamentals in place in terms of staffing and the infrastructure to grow in the future. What we learn from managing the business is what really matters is your ability to adapt.”

The war in Ukraine has seen Wizz “reshuffle” 30% of its capacity and it has become the largest carrier to Israel outside of the domestic market.

“The carrier is also looking further afield serving Abu Dhabi in the Middle East, a destination which Váradi said was clearly in demand with a lot more to come. Currently it represents 10% of the carrier’s capacity.

Asked about plans to extend Wizz’s network further to India and Singapore, Váradi said “we shall see”. He added the carrier was “very active” on India while Singapore was more “ visionary”. “It’s a dream of someone,” he said, “maybe not me.”

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