Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air has announced the closure of its Abu Dhabi-based subsidiary, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, and the suspension of all flights from the UAE capital starting from 1 September 2025.

According to the company, the decision comes as part of a new strategic reassessment aimed at refocusing operations on the carrier's core markets — Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Austria, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

The closure of the Abu Dhabi joint venture, which had been operating since November 2020, will result in the complete termination of services to Uzbekistan, including flights to Samarkand and Tashkent. Wizz Air's inaugural flight to Samarkand took place in December 2022, followed by service to Tashkent in January 2023.

The airline cited a number of significant challenges and constraints as reasons for its withdrawal from the Middle Eastern market. These include geopolitical instability that has led to periodic airspace closures and logistical disruptions, regulatory barriers that hinder expansion into key countries such as India and Pakistan, and Abu Dhabi's extreme climate, which adversely affects aircraft performance.

“The combination of these factors has cast doubt on the long-term viability of Wizz Air’s ultra-low-cost model in the Middle East and its profitability compared to core operations in Europe,” the airline stated in its official release.

According to Reuters, operations in Abu Dhabi accounted for just around 5% of the company’s total activity. In contrast, two-thirds of Wizz Air's business is concentrated in Central and Eastern Europe, with less than 30% spread across the UK, Italy, and Austria.

As of today, Wizz Air’s fleet consists of 237 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, with another 280 aircraft on order, expected to be delivered over the next five years. For the 2025 financial year, the airline plans to transport more than 63 million passengers.