Wizz Air Abu Dhabi Is Shutting Down, And Apparently It’s Because… It’s Hot?

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has announced it’s pulling the plug on its entire operation. The ultra-low-cost carrier will shut down on September 1, 2025 , citing — among other things — the extreme heat of the Middle East as a key reason.

After four and a half years of serving budget flyers out of Abu Dhabi, the airline’s Gulf adventure is coming to an end. Let’s unpack why this really happened, and whether this explanation makes sense.

When Wizz Air launched its Abu Dhabi joint venture in 2021, the ambition was sky-high. Backed by Abu Dhabi’s ADQ and using a fleet of shiny new Airbus A321neos, the carrier promised ultra-low fares to destinations across the Middle East, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.

While there were early successes: cheap fares, a growing route map, and a new competitor in the Gulf market — the operation was consistently constrained by real-world limitations.

Here’s where it gets weird. In its shutdown statement, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi directly cites “the increasingly extreme summer heat in the region” as a key reason for ceasing operations.

Now, to be fair, the heat in the Gulf is no joke. Temperatures can push 50°C (122°F) during the summer, and that affects aircraft performance, especially for takeoffs with full payloads. Engines run hotter, takeoff distances increase, and there are legitimate operational and economic consequences.

That said... it’s the Middle East. It’s always been hot.

Airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, Saudia, and dozens of others have been operating in this environment for decades. So while Wizz Air Abu Dhabi isn’t entirely wrong to point out the challenges of extreme heat, using it as a primary reason to shut down an entire airline seems, well, like a stretch..

The heat explanation is interesting, but it's likely a cover for a broader strategic retreat. Consider the more plausible factors:

Despite early promises, the airline never gained proper access to markets like India and Pakistan — key for Gulf-based carriers.

The airline flew roughly 12 A321s on about 30 destinations out of Abu Dhabi — just about 5% of its total network. Hardly a game‑changer.

By all accounts, the Abu Dhabi operation struggled to reach profitability and scale. According to industry reports, the subsidiary was losing around €30–35 million per year.

Wizz is focusing back on its core European markets

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operated a fleet of Airbus A321neos before announcing its exit from the
Gulf market

CEO József Váradi acknowledged the decision was not taken lightly:

“We have been underinvesting in this market over the last few years. Now we can go back to the full spirit of continuously exploiting the market.”

He described the closure as “tough but necessary”, indicating that Wizz will now prioritize growth in Central and Eastern Europe, where it maintains a strong cost advantage and competitive edge.

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is calling it quits, and while the airline blames the Middle Eastern heat, there’s likely much more to the story. Operational challenges, intense competition, and a shaky business model probably all played a role.

This venture was always a risk, and ultimately, it didn’t pay off.

Losing 60 % of its share value over two years due in part to Pratt & Whitney GTF engine woes, Wizz Air needed to kill off distractions and focus on where it’s actually competitive: Eastern and Central Europe, where few carriers can match its cost structure.