Wizz Air targets transatlantic expansion with UK–US flight application

Wizz Air has applied for U.S. regulatory approval to launch passenger flights between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking a renewed push into the lucrative transatlantic market. The airline’s UK subsidiary has petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation for a foreign air carrier permit, seeking to begin operations “as soon as possible” under the UK–US Open Skies Agreement signed in 2020.

This move follows Wizz Air’s decision to scale back its Middle East expansion plans last year and reflects a strategic shift toward markets with strong and growing leisure demand. It is also the carrier’s second attempt to enter the U.S. market, after its Hungarian unit applied in 2022 for permission to operate all-cargo flights to the United States.

While Wizz Air declined to comment and the U.S. DoT has yet to respond publicly, the filing signals the airline’s intent to leverage its ultra-low-cost model to capture rising European demand for travel to U.S. destinations, including secondary cities.