Together with the new base the company also is opening four new routes from Poznan - to Oslo, Norway; Malmo, Sweden; Doncaster, England, and Glasgow, Scotland. Until January 31 one could fly from Poznan with Wizzair only to Dortmund, Germany, and to London. By opening a base in Poznan, Wizzair continues to strengthen its industry leadership in Poland.

 

Since it entered the Polish market in 2004, Wizzair has been the largest low-cost airline in Poland. In 2007 the airline carried 2.8 mln passengers on its Polish routes, 33 percent more than in 2006.

 

The company currently holds 35 percent of the Polish low-cost carrier market and its leadership will be further strengthened this summer. At a press conference in Poznan, Wizzair said it was committed to further growth in Poland, with new routes and bases, more flights on existing routes and more aircraft at its Polish bases. As a matter of fact, Wizzair already has committed three of its six new Airbus A320s to Katowice, Gdansk and Poznan. For now, one A320 is committed to Poznan, with another plane scheduled to be sent there later this year. In 2008, Wizzair will have 12 aircraft in Poland. As far as international development is concerned, Wizzair has already announced 14 new routes to be started in the first half of 2008.

 

The competition is not sleeping. Centralwings has also announced new routes. One will link Poznan and Amsterdam in March. Passengers should be happy, because competition often means lower prices. Wizzair plans to carry about 4 mln passengers to and from Poland this year. Wizzair specialists forecast a 40 percent increase over 2007 passenger numbers this year as a result of capacity growth. The staff for the first Airbus A320 in Poznan has already been hired. This week the company has started the recruitment for the next aircraft. The new Wizzair base in Poznan has created hundreds of jobs in the area. And the new flights will encourage more tourists to come to this region.