Greece, Italy, Spain, Norway, Malta and more Now Connected as Wizz Air Launches New Base at Warsaw Modlin in Strategic Return to Poland

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Wizz Air has resumed operations from Poland by announcing today its newest base in the country at Warsaw Modlin Airport, providing new and highly desired holiday destinations across Europe and beyond to passengers specifically looking to enjoy a summer vacation to Greece, Italy, Spain, Norway, Malta, and more. This switch comes after more than 10 years since the airline last flew from Modlin and is part of its renewed interest in the Central and Eastern Europe. Although Wizz Air plans to scale back its initial capacity and frequencies as a result of COVID-19, by basing aircraft at Modlin, rather than the over congested Warsaw Chopin Airport, the carrier can take advantage of cheaper operations and greater slot availability, as it looks to grow its low-cost network and foster connectivity between leisure and cultural hotspots across the region.

Wizz Air has officially announced its comeback to Warsaw Modlin, marking a major reshaping of its European route strategy. Starting from 26th October, this strategic return to the market involves basing aircraft at new base Modlin and the introduction of 11 new routes across Europe. The decision is a reversal for the airline, which stopped operating at Modlin more than a decade ago in 2013, after determining that it would be more cost-effective to consolidate at the more centrally located Warsaw Chopin Airport. Now, as congestion increases and infrastructure problems are fixed, Wizz Air takes new interest in the underused Modlin base.

A Strategic Move Back to Modlin

Originally operating from Modlin between 2012 and 2013, Wizz Air was forced to shift its operations to Warsaw Chopin Airport due to issues surrounding runway safety and airport infrastructure. Since then, Chopin has become Poland’s busiest airport, handling over 18 million passengers annually and facing severe congestion with limited availability of aircraft slots.

With Modlin Airport now fully functional and offering 24/7 operational access, it presents a cost-effective and viable alternative for expansion. The airport’s lower operating fees, compared to Chopin, align perfectly with Wizz Air’s ultra-low-cost model, making the return to Modlin both financially and operationally attractive.

The plan includes stationing two aircraft at the airport to support its operations, emphasizing the airline’s confidence in Modlin’s upgraded infrastructure and untapped growth potential.

Overview of the 11 New Routes

Wizz Air’s new base at Warsaw Modlin will initially offer 11 new routes spanning eight countries. These connections are carefully curated to cater to both leisure and regional demand across Southern, Western, and Eastern Europe. The initial destinations and their weekly flight frequencies include:

Athens, Greece – 4 times per weekAlghero, Italy – 2 times per weekBarcelona, Spain – 5 times per weekBergamo, Italy – 6 times per weekBergen, Norway – 3 times per weekBrindisi, Italy – 2 times per weekChisinau, Moldova – 4 times per weekMalta – 3 times per weekPalermo, Italy – 2 times per weekPaphos, Cyprus – 3 times per weekSofia, Bulgaria – 5 times per week

This route mix highlights Wizz Air’s intent to offer a broad range of travel options, from popular sun-drenched Mediterranean hotspots to culturally rich Eastern European cities. The airline has yet to confirm which aircraft will be deployed, but it is expected to utilize planes from its Airbus A320 or A321neo family.

Historical and Strategic Importance of Modlin Airport

Constructed in the 1930s as a military airfield, Modlin Airport was redeveloped for civilian use in 2012, just in time for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament co-hosted by Poland. The airport caters predominantly to low-cost carriers, boasting a 2,500-meter runway and a dedicated terminal with a pre-pandemic capacity of around 3 million passengers annually.

At its peak, Modlin handled 2.9 million travelers—a figure that Wizz Air’s return could soon help surpass. Despite its 40-kilometer distance from Warsaw city center, the airport remains attractive due to its streamlined operations and lower costs, especially for budget-conscious travelers.

Reallocating Assets After Abu Dhabi Closure

Wizz Air’s return to Modlin coincides with a major operational decision—shutting down its Abu Dhabi subsidiary as of September 1, 2025. The airline cited several issues influencing this exit: persistent airspace restrictions, geopolitical instability in the Middle East, extreme operating temperatures, and regulatory barriers limiting market access in key Gulf and Indian subcontinent regions.

The closure of the Abu Dhabi operations frees up both aircraft and personnel, resources that will now be redirected toward the new Warsaw Modlin base. This pivot underscores Wizz Air’s renewed focus on Europe, particularly Central and Eastern Europe, which continues to show strong growth potential in the low-cost travel sector.

Competitive Dynamics and Operational Challenges

While Wizz Air’s comeback presents new travel opportunities for passengers, it also injects fresh competition into the Polish aviation market—especially for Ryanair, which has long dominated operations at Modlin. Ryanair aims to significantly boost its passenger volume at Modlin Airport to exceed five million travelers each year by 2030, a goal that may face increased rivalry as Wizz Air’s renewed operations are likely to spark heightened competition on shared routes, driving fare reductions and potential improvements in service offerings.

However, Wizz Air will face several operational challenges. Although Modlin has seen infrastructure improvements, the airport’s limited passenger capacity and basic terminal amenities remain areas of concern. With current capacity stretched close to its limits, additional investments may be necessary if demand surges following Wizz Air’s expansion.

The possibility of introducing future routes—potentially to cities like Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds Bradford, or Prague—could depend on passenger uptake and terminal upgrades. Still, the 11-route launch provides a solid foundation to build upon.

Responding to Broader European Trends

Wizz Air’s decision aligns with a broader airline industry trend: diversifying airport operations to include secondary hubs that offer lower costs, faster turnaround times, and fewer regulatory hurdles. This model has already proven successful in various parts of Europe, where low-cost carriers have transformed smaller airports into bustling travel nodes.

In addition to serving densely populated regions with strong outbound travel demand, bases like Modlin give Wizz Air a competitive advantage in optimizing crew deployment, maintenance scheduling, and route profitability.

The timing of the launch also allows ample runway for marketing campaigns, crew training, and logistical preparations. By announcing its base well ahead of the October 2025 opening, Wizz Air ensures potential travelers have time to plan and book trips—maximizing the new network’s early performance.

A Vote of Confidence in Poland’s Aviation Sector

Poland has seen remarkable growth in air travel over the past decade, fueled by economic development, growing tourism, and expanding diaspora connections. With Warsaw Chopin approaching saturation, the need for alternative airport infrastructure became increasingly urgent.

Wizz Air’s renewed interest in Modlin signals trust in the Polish aviation sector’s ability to support future growth. The airline’s strategy aligns with Poland’s broader goals of improving regional connectivity, promoting tourism, and leveraging EU market access.

The Warsaw Modlin initiative also fits into Wizz Air’s ongoing efforts to consolidate its position as one of Europe’s leading ultra-low-cost carriers, especially in the face of growing competition and changing travel dynamics post-pandemic.

What’s Next for Wizz Air in Poland?

While the current focus is on successfully launching the 11 new routes, Wizz Air has not ruled out future expansions in Poland. The success of the Modlin base could influence the airline’s decisions about reopening or expanding bases in other Polish cities such as Gdańsk, Katowice, or Kraków.

Additionally, if passenger volumes meet or exceed expectations, Modlin’s capacity constraints may prompt discussions around future terminal enhancements, extended parking facilities, and public transport links to improve accessibility from Warsaw’s city center.

Wizz Air has opened a new base in Warsaw Modlin Airport, Poland, and has restored connections between Polish consumers and their favourite destinations in Greece, Italy, Spain, Norway, Malta and others. The strategic return will relieve pressure at Warsaw Chopin Airport and provide a low-cost travel alternative across Europe by leveraging Modlin’s cost-efficient and effective facilities and a larger catchment area.

Competitors and industry observers will be paying close attention to the October 2025 launch, which is viewed as a commercial chance and a logistical dry run. Whether Modlin does in fact grow to match those pax levels may be a different story, but for now Wizz Air’s big bet on Poland is one of the biggest featured in European low-cost aviation in 2013.