Dec 22, 2021
Wizz Air snaps up Gatwick slots from Norwegian
Low-cost airline Wizz Air has bought a portfolio of take-off and landing slots at Gatwick airport from Norwegian Air Shuttle, in a deal that significantly increases its presence in the UK. The Hungarian carrier has acquired 15 daily slot pairs from Norwegian, which once used Gatwick as a base for transatlantic flying but has slimmed down into a regional player during the pandemic. "Acquiring airport slots at Gatwick airport will enable us to enhance our presence and competitive position in the London market," said József Váradi, Wizz Air's chief executive. In 2017, British Airways bought 20 prime take-off and landing slots at Gatwick from collapsed airline Monarch for as much as £50m. Norwegian abandoned its attempt to crack the low-cost long-haul market earlier this year, leading to 1,100 job losses at Gatwick. Wizz has long promised to increase its presence at Gatwick, but has been frustrated by rules brought in during the crisis that have allowed carriers like Norwegian to keep their landing slots at airports without using them. Wizz and Gatwick have pushed the UK government to bring back the normal slot rules, which force airlines to give up slots if they are not used 80 per cent of the time.
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