Wizz Air Hungary has announced that its competent authority responsible for safety oversight is now the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

The carrier says it is first such airline in Europe to obtain the certification. Wizz Air Hungary continues to fly under the Hungarian flag and the Hungarian Civil Aviation Authority continues to exercise regulatory control over the carrier’s operating licence and route permits.

Wizz Air operates in several EU member states and the carrier made the request following the introduction of a regulation which allows organisations to ask EASA to act as their competent authority, responsible for safety oversight and certification.

Enhanced cooperation

According to the airline, the regulatory transition supports the multinational expansion of the Wizz Air Group which operates a fleet of 126 Airbus A320 family aircraft flying to 46 countries. The certification will also enhance cooperation with national civil aviation authorities across the carrier’s current and prospective markets.

József Váradi, chief executive officer of Wizz Air said: “I am delighted to announce that Hungary is the first member state that innovates Europe’s airline regulation, while Wizz Air Hungary is the first airline to have EASA as a European competent authority overseeing its AOC.”

“This ground breaking regulatory model between the Hungarian and European authorities underpins Wizz Air’s growth ambitions and provides many new opportunities to innovate the industry as it has done during the past 16 years.”

EASA’s Executive Director Patrick Ky, said: “We are very happy to have such a young and dynamic airline as the first airplane operator under oversight of EASA. The EU operating certificate is well-suited for airlines such as Wizz Air which have multiple operating bases in different EASA member states. As the centralised competent authority for Wizz Air’s operations, EASA will ensure an internationally recognised high standard of oversight for the airline.”

The carrier has recently released a new health and safety video in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Click here to view the video.