Wizz Air reveals eight returning UAE routes – here's where it will fly

Wizz Air is reintroducing eight routes linking Abu Dhabi and Dubai to European destinations, commencing in October. This brings back 32 weekly services to the UAE, though it's not the return of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, which ceased operations in September last year due to operational challenges and geopolitical instability. Instead, these new services reconnect the emirates with Wizz Air's existing European network, primarily serving Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria.

The restoration will begin on October 25, with Abu Dhabi receiving the majority of the flights. Six routes and 20 weekly services will fly to Abu Dhabi, while Dubai will host two routes and 12 flights weekly. The UAE routes will be progressively restored from October 25, alongside a broader expansion of 12 routes and 49 weekly flights to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan throughout the winter season, offering 470,000 seats across nine European cities.

The phased restoration follows a recent review of conflict-zone recommendations and Wizz Air's operational and security assessments. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi ceased operations in September last year, five years after its inception as a joint venture between Wizz Air Holdings and Abu Dhabi holding company ADQ, citing operational difficulties and geopolitical instability.

The airline had also faced engine reliability issues, particularly problematic in the region's hot climate. Despite this, the wider Wizz Air group has maintained connections between the UAE and Middle Eastern destinations and its European network until regional disruptions led to service suspensions earlier this year.