Wizz Air Opens Its Iasi Base

Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, and Romania’s largest airline today celebrates the opening of its newest Romanian base in Iasi. The airline is initially deploying one Airbus A320 aircraft to be based at Iasi International Airport operating five new routes from Iasi to Larnaca, Bologna, Tel Aviv, Catania and Rome Ciampino starting from 1 July.

Already served by WIZZ flights, Iasi is becoming WIZZ’s sixth Romanian airport with base operations. The new aircraft increases the number of routes served from Iasi to eight and will triple the seat capacity to 265,000 in 2016. The airline hopes this will stimulate the local job market in aviation and tourism sectors as consumers will have access to more low cost routes.

WIZZ’s first Romanian flight took off from Bucharest in January 2007 and since then, Wizz Air has continuously increased its network of low-fare routes for its Romanian customers. Already the largest airline in Romania, Wizz Air will grow its fleet to 20 aircraft in the country by the end of 2016, including the ultra-efficient brand new 230-seat Airbus A321. Wizz Air offers a total of 118 low-fare routes to 16 countries from nine Romanian airports, with fares on many routes starting at RON 39*, providing affordable access between Romania and the rest of Europe for both business and leisure travelers. Over 600 Wizz Air colleagues in Romania look forward to welcoming ever more passengers on board WIZZ’s Romanian flights, which this year will support more than 3,300 jobs in associated industries throughout Romania**.

WIZZ’s newest routes from its Iasi base to Bologna, Catania, Larnaca, Rome Ciampino and Tel Aviv are starting from 1 July, all initially operating with two weekly flights except for Iasi-Bologna service that is operated with three flights per week. Frequencies to Milan Bergamo are also increased. Seats on the Iasi routes are available from just RON 109* and can be booked on wizzair.com.

Speaking at a Press Conference in Iasi, Tamara Vallois, Head of Communications of Wizz Air said: "We are delighted today to be celebrating this significant event for both the Moldova region and Wizz Air. Since the very first WIZZ flight in Romania in 2007, WIZZ has democratized air travel as well as continuously developed low-fare network in Romanian regions and today’s announcement once again underlines our commitment to the country. We put Iasi on the map of aviation in 2014 and today it becomes the sixth Romanian airport where we establish base operations. The new base will create a number of local jobs with Wizz Air and our local business partners while allowing us to bring more low fare routes to Romania. As Romania’s largest airline we strive to continue offering the lowest fares paired with outstanding on board service and our local crew looks forward to welcoming you onboard with a smile.”

Marius Bodea, Executive Chairman of the Board of Iasi International Airport said: ”Today is an important day for the evolution of Iasi Airport and also for the entire North-East region. Besides allocation of an aircraft and increase of connectivity with a growing number of European cities, the opening of an operating base in Iasi demonstrates once again that we have made an important investment for the community, it means stability and development, because Wizz Air wants is investing on a long term. An airline base is, in fact, the foundation of the company business, it means, implicitly, the guarantee of economic development of our region – meaning more work places, increased airport activity, benefits reflected as well in the tourism and hospitality areas, an additional opportunity for business environment. We are open to any partnership with operators who want to come to Iasi because we can’t talk about real development if we don’t succeed in creating direct links to as many destinations as possible, if we don’t create diversity, responding to the demand from all social categories and professions. We thank Wizz Air for its openness and trust.”