Olivia Harangozo: Currently holding a 18% market share in Cyprus, Wizz Air is committed to further growth

“We currently hold a 18% market share in Cyprus, and we are actively recruiting, showing our commitment to growth here in Larnaca,” Olivia Harangozo, Corporate Communications Manager at Wizz Air has revealed.

She was speaking to CBN at Larnaca International Airport, having touched down in Cyprus to celebrate the milestone of Wizz Air officially reaching nine million passengers at Larnaca earlier this week. Harangozo is the person on the right holding the celebratory placard in the above photo.

Currently, Wizz Air employs 8,500 people across 32 bases in 16 countries, operating nearly 200 destinations in 52 countries. Its fleet consists of 227 Airbus aircraft, with over 65% equipped with the latest fuel-efficient technology.

A rapidly expanding network

Since launching operations in Cyprus in 2020 - considered a bold move given the uncertainty of the COVID-19 era at the time - Wizz Air has rapidly expanded its network, firmly establishing itself as a key player in the market. As part of its continued growth strategy, the airline recently introduced two new routes from Larnaca International Airport to Cairo and Milan, further enhancing connectivity for travellers.

In 2024 alone, Wizz Air carried 68.2 million passengers, operated over 300,000 flights, launched almost 100 new routes, and welcomed 34 brand-new aircraft to its fleet.

“In Cyprus, we have one base in Larnaca, operating 28 routes to 17 different countries,” Harangozo explained. “At present, we have three aircraft based here, but from the summer, we will have four permanently, increasing our capacity by more than 30%—a significant expansion. We currently hold a 18% market share in Cyprus, and we are actively recruiting, showing our commitment to growth here in Larnaca. We have already held two recruitment events in January and have several more planned for March.”

Passenger arrival milestone

Moving on to the reason for her visit to Cyprus, Harangozo noted, “Reaching nine million passengers at Larnaca International Airport is an incredible milestone for us. This achievement reflects the trust and loyalty of our passengers, who continue to choose Wizz Air for their travels,” she said.

“We are delighted to see more and more travellers from Cyprus choosing Wizz Air, and we remain committed to offering affordable fares, an extensive network of destinations, and an exceptional travel experience. Our mission is to continuously evolve to meet our customers’ expectations while making air travel more accessible than ever.”

To mark this occasion, meanwhile, Wizz Air rewarded its lucky nine-millionth passenger with a special travel voucher, while passengers on a flight from Budapest to Larnaca were treated to celebratory surprises, adding an extra festive touch to their journey.

Investing in human capital

Returning to talking about the airline’s wider activities and Wizz Air’s approach to developing aviation talent in particular, Harangozo’s enthusiasm was clear. “I’m not sure if you’ve heard of WAPA,” she said, referring to the Wizz Air Pilot Academy, “but it’s a fascinating programme based in Hungary that trains pilots from scratch. The fact that we are investing in pilot training shows just how much we are growing,” she noted.

“Beyond Budapest, pilot training also takes place at newly established centres, including a state-of-the-art facility in Rome. We need more pilots because we are continuously expanding our fleet. And for those interested in joining us, we offer an applicant-friendly financial scheme and guaranteed job at Wizz Air.” She smiled as she described the academy’s cutting-edge simulators; “They look a little like something out of Star Wars!”

Sustainable travel

Apart from investing in its human capital, sustainability is another key focus for Wizz Air, with the airline making significant strides in reducing emissions and integrating green initiatives into its operations.

When asked how these efforts align with practicality, Harangozo was quick to respond. “Our efficiency-focused fleet and investments in sustainable technologies give us the lowest carbon emissions per passenger km among our competitors—just 52 grams. Over the past decade, we have significantly reduced our carbon footprint, and as our fleet continues to modernise, emissions will only decrease further. Our new aircraft deliveries reflect our commitment to sustainability and our determination to lead the industry in environmental responsibility.”

Wizz Air is also keen to understand its passengers’ perspectives on sustainable travel. “We conducted a survey and found that 58% of travellers are willing to change their travel habits if it means flying in a more sustainable way,” she shared. “This feedback reinforces our commitment to not just meeting industry standards, but exceeding them.”

Looking ahead, Wizz Air’s ambitious WIZZ 500 strategy aims to grow its fleet to 500 aircraft by 2030. “We currently operate 227 aircraft, and we plan to reach 500 by 2030,” Harangozo stated. “We have already announced more than 40 new routes, and we continue to grow by 20% each year. This is the pace we want to maintain.”

Navigating the pandemic

She also talked about Wizz Air’s post-pandemic recovery and more specifically how the airline navigated the sharp decline in passenger numbers during COVID and successfully scale up operations to meet the surge in demand that followed.

“We used the COVID period wisely - we invested. We knew that, once the pandemic ended, people would want to travel again—perhaps more than ever. So we prepared, strengthened our fleet, refined our operations, and invested,” Harangozo revealed.