BUDAPEST, HUNGARY — Wizz Air President Robert Carey revealed plans for the European budget carrier to grow its fleet to more than 200 aircraft in the coming year and 500 by 2030.


Carey also highlighted the potential for growth in the Middle East while noting that the airline is content with its current presence in the Western market.

Wizz Air aims to become the first and the only ultra-low-cost airline to offer service in the Middle East. The company is likewise preparing to expand its service in Abu Dhabi this summer, as well as double the number of routes it operates into Saudi Arabia from 12 to 24.

The European operator has recently announced plans to increase the number of flights to multiple European destinations from Budapest, such as Barcelona, Napoli, Bari, Rome, Berlin, and Dubai. This year, Wizz Air anticipates 43 million passengers from Budapest.

Initially, Wizz Air's primary operations were based in central and eastern Europe, but the airline now holds an air operator certificate in the UK besides Hungary.