Over 7 Hours: Inside Wizz Air’s New Longest Route
Here are its ten longest routes.
Image: GCMap.
Generally speaking, (U)LCCs aim for routes of between one and two hours, roughly up to about 1,000 miles (1,609km). That's the 'sweet spot' because it helps to increase flights (sectors) per day, growing passengers, ancillary revenue opportunities from that higher volume, and overall revenue per day. Obviously, there are numerous exceptions: some flights are much shorter, others far longer.
Read more: Ryanair Vs Wizz: Which ULCC Dominates Central & Eastern Europe?
The Wizz Air Group's average sector length is 956 miles (1,539km) this year, according to Cirium data. Analyzing block times shows that it has more flights exactly 2h than any other duration, with 1h 50m the next most common. (Block time includes flight time, taxi time at both ends, and time for short delays.)
While still within the sweet spot, both are at the higher end, although larger-capacity aircraft, mainly A321s, offset it. They contribute to a lower seat-mile cost, enabling lower fares and more demand stimulation, and obviously increase revenue opportunities.
Introducing Wizz Air's new longest routeTaking off on July 24th will be Milan to Abu Dhabi, Wizz Air's longest route (for now). Located 2,932 miles (4,719km) apart, it is just 2% shorter than the 3,000 miles (4,828km) considered to be long-haul. For comparison purposes, it is almost the same distance as Dublin to Boston. It will use Malpensa-based aircraft and crew.
It is scheduled as follows, with all times local. It means that the aircraft may operate two sectors, probably domestically, in the morning, before the crew is changed and the aircraft is flown to the UAE.
- Milan Malpensa to Abu Dhabi: W67060, 10:50-19:25 (6h 35m)
- Abu Dhabi to Milan Malpensa: W67061, 20:10-01:30+1 (7h 20m)
As of January 11th and subject to change, all of Wizz Air's ten longest routes are over 2,500 miles (4,024km), based on examining the Group's whole schedule using Cirium. Inevitably, most involve the Middle East, especially its Abu Dhabi base, although many of the long Abu Dhabi-Europe flights use non-based aircraft.
The results would be different if the analysis were conducted only on its intra-Europe network. Not surprisingly, all ten routes are scheduled to be operated by 240-seat A321neos with better fuel efficiency.
|
1 |
Milan Malpensa-Abu Dhabi |
2,932 (4,719) |
7h 20m |
1x daily (starts July 24th) |
Click here for Milan-Abu Dhabi flights |
|
2 |
Vienna-Abu Dhabi |
2,637 (4,244) |
6h 5m |
Up to 1x daily |
Click here for Vienna-Abu Dhabi flights |
|
3 |
Vienna-Dubai International |
2,626 (4,226) |
6h 5m |
3x weekly (until March) |
Click here for Vienna-Dubai flights |
|
4 |
Katowice-Abu Dhabi |
2,611 (4,203) |
6h 10m |
3x weekly |
Click here for Katowice-Abu Dhabi flights |
|
5 |
Bucharest-Tenerife South |
2,602 (4,188) |
6h 10m |
Up to 3x weekly |
Click here for Bucharest-Tenerife flights |
|
6 |
Naples-Abu Dhabi |
2,582 (4,155) |
6h 10m |
2x weekly |
Click here for Naples-Abu Dhabi flights |
|
7 |
Krakow-Abu Dhabi |
2,571 (4,137) |
6h 5m |
Up to 3x weekly |
Click here for Krakow-Abu Dhabi flights |
|
8 |
Bucharest-Gran Canaria |
2,550 (4,103) |
6h 10m |
1x weekly (until March) |
Click here for Bucharest-Gran Canaria flights |
|
9 |
Warsaw Chopin-Tenerife South |
2,546 (4,097) |
6h 5m |
2x weekly |
Click here for Warsaw-Tenerife flights |
|
10 |
Milan Malpensa-Riyadh |
2,540 (4,088) |
5h 55m |
Up to 2x weekly |
Click here for Milan-Riyadh flights |
Generally, the long routes return to their home base late at night or early in the morning. The aircraft typically operate four sectors a day rather than the usual six, hopefully, offset by higher sector fare revenue and more ancillary revenue on the long trips. It illustrates the balance that must be achieved between multiple factors.
Джерело інформації: Simple Flying