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Wizz Air is outraged by the fact that PPL (Polish Airport Authorities) will close the Etiuda Terminal and double the charges imposed on airlines currently operating out of Etiuda effectively from April 2009. PPL has confirmed no plans for re-accommodating the low cost carriers other than proposing the prohibitive charges currently available for operations out of the main terminal of Warsaw Airport.
Wizz Air, the largest low fare – low cost carrier at Warsaw Airport has been operating out of Etiuda Terminal since September 2004 and has made significant investments in setting up and running an operating base that currently employs over 100 local staff. Wizz Air’s Warsaw traffic will record 875,000 passengers in 2008, accounting for 15% of the airport’s total traffic.
The overall airline capacity at Warsaw Airport dropped by 14% in November compared to the same month last year, marking the third sharpest decline of Europe’s primary airports. During the same period Wizz Air’s capacity in Warsaw grew 12% or 4,500 seats which was is the airport’s largest capacity increase in November.
Wizz Air views the PPL plan as a major jeopardy on the future perspective of civil aviation of Poland’s capital and a hostile move against the interest of Poland and the Polish people. Millions of Polish people who currently enjoy the financial benefits of low fares will suffer increased charges or no low fare opportunities at all. Also as a result of the PPL plan hundreds of people will lose their jobs.
Jozsef Varadi, Chief executive Officer of Wizz Air said: ‘We are outraged by the irresponsible and one sided decision of PPL to wipe Warsaw out from the map of low cost airlines. Even though the constantly changing management of PPL has been talking about opening Modlin airport for low cost airlines, it was not able to deliver any progress over the past 5 years.” He went on saying: "This incompetent decision is only aimed at protecting LOT, the airline which has been wasting hundreds of millions of zlotys of Polish tax payers money on Centralwings. Once it failed, they decided to shut down the low cost terminal to protect the struggling mother company. This goes against the spirit of free market economy and EU antimonopoly regulations." Wizz Air publicly requests the revision of the Warsaw Airport plans in the spirit of the interest of the Polish people and the prospect of Polish civil aviation.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
