Wizz Air CEO József Váradi has made a sarcastic remark about Hungary’s transport minister amid a dispute over night-time flights at Budapest Airport and warned of a difficult winter for European aviation.
Wizz Air CEO József Váradi has warned that efforts to restrict night-time flights at Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport could have serious consequences for passengers. Speaking at a press event on Friday, he discussed the challenges of avoiding late arrivals and made an ironic remark about Hungary’s Transport and Investment Minister Dávid Vitézy, as reported by HVG.
The government has been working with Budapest Airport, HungaroControl and Wizz Air to reduce aircraft noise during the night. A joint working group is examining how to protect residents living near the airport without unnecessarily disrupting flight operations.
Váradi acknowledged that residents’ concerns were justified, but argued that many delays are caused by circumstances beyond the airline’s control.
Wizz Air CEO’s sarcastic response to night flight restrictions
According to Váradi, a delay early in the morning can affect an aircraft’s entire daily schedule, potentially causing its final flight to arrive in Budapest during restricted night-time hours.
In such situations, the airline may have to cancel the flight or divert passengers to another airport, such as Bratislava, rather than land in Budapest.
“And we’ll give passengers the minister’s phone number so they can call him,” Váradi remarked.
He argued that government measures intended to protect consumers could sometimes have the opposite effect, leaving travellers to deal with the consequences of cancelled or diverted flights.
While Wizz Air is adjusting its schedules to minimise late-night arrivals, Váradi stressed that disruptions cannot always be prevented. He also claimed that the airline’s newer aircraft generate roughly half as much noise per flight as those of some competitors.
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Strong growth in Hungary despite a difficult outlook
Váradi said the airline remains the market leader in Hungary with a 38% share, operating 19 aircraft from its Budapest base and serving 88 destinations from Budapest and Debrecen combined.
The company carried 2.6 million passengers in Hungary during the summer, a 30% increase compared with the previous year. It expects to transport around nine million passengers in the country by the end of 2026, exceeding its original target of 8.3 million.
“We consider ourselves Hungary’s national airline,” the CEO said, highlighting the company’s contribution to tourism and major international events. However, the CEO warned that the coming winter would be challenging for Europe’s aviation industry, as high fuel prices and supply chain disruptions continue to affect airlines.
Wizz Air believes it has an advantage over competitors, having secured 82% of its fuel requirements for the next six months at approximately half the current market price. More than three-quarters of its fleet also consists of fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Despite the difficult environment, the airline is pursuing further expansion, including new bases in Madrid, Valencia, Pristina and Brașov. By 2030, Wizz Air aims to carry 127 million passengers annually, compared with fewer than 70 million in 2025, while expanding its fleet from 276 to 335 aircraft.
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