Wizz Air has said it is set to return to growth in 2026 as it revealed a two-year support and compensation agreement with Pratt & Whitney over the grounding of its aircraft.
The carrier has secured the agreement with the engine maker to the end of 2026, which includes both operational support and a compensation package covering its direct costs due to aircraft grounding measures.
However, the Hungarian company said it expects the ongoing grounding of around 40 of its Airbus A320neo aircraft through to 2025-26 due to inspections needed on the engines.
Wizz Air revealed in September 2023 it faced a potential capacity cut of 10% in the second half of its financial year due to the need for engine inspections.
The issue with the engines was described as a “rare condition in powder metal used to manufacture certain engine parts”.
In November 2024, Wizz Air profits fell by 21% in the six months to September due to the groundings and air traffic control disruption. The carrier reported a half-year net profit of €315.2 million compared with €400.7 million in the same period last year.
During 2025-2026, the airline will take delivery of 50 new Airbus A320neo aircraft, which will enable it to grow its seat capacity by about 20%.
A Wizz Air spokesperson said: “The company continues to take proactive action to mitigate the financial and operational impact of the grounded aircraft and will continue to work with Pratt & Whitney to ensure that aircraft are returned to operation as soon as possible.”