Low cost flights Milan-ABU Dhabi: few customers and tariff war, Wizz Air stops the route before even taking off

A few tickets sold, less passengers willing to stay for almost six hours sitting in the (narrow) seats of an ultra low cost company and unprecedented tariff war of the rival already present on the market. The first flight in Italy of the Irbus A321XLR – the single corridor plane capable of carrying out intercontinental connections – You don’t have to do. Wizz Air has announced that the Milan Malpensa-ABU Dhabi route will not start and the experts wonder if it is not the beginning of a rethinking of the Hungarian carrier network that focuses a lot on the AA321XLR to unite Europe and India.

The official note

« Due to unexpected changes in market conditions and operational considerations, we made the difficult decision to suspend the launch of our new Milan Malpensa-ABU Dhabi route, » says a tightened press release of Wizz Air. « Although we were excited to offer this service to our customers, careful analysis determined that, at the moment, it would not be sustainable. » The move arrives exactly one month from the expected start of the operations, on June 2nd. And confirms the doubts of several insiders expressed when the carrier had announced the route.

The reservations numbers

One of the critical issues lies in the delay in the deliveries of the A321xlr. But sources inside the company explain to Courier That « less than 6 thousand seats » are sold for the month of June, that is, below half of the places offered on the connection in both directions (the company, contacted, did not want to comment on the numbers). Unacceptable data for an low cost ultra that makes useful on volumes and a filling rate of at least 90-91%. But there are also those who do not hide the fact that Wizz Air showed themselves « unprepared » to face the commercial war declared (and made) by Etihad Airways, the Emiratina company that has been operating for years.

Compared

And in fact the tariff analysis of the Courier It shows that in June for several days Etihad drew prices-to the trafficking-proposed by Wizz Air, with 129-130 euros to fly from Malpensa to Abu Dhabi. But while with Etihad the cost includes both hand luggage and food on board-not to mention greater comfort and entertainment (music, movies, TV series, games) thanks to the use of the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777, double corridor jets-, in the Hand-baggage and food Wizz Air ticket were to be paid extra, which would bring the final cost to at least 180-200 euros.

Etihad’s move

« Etihad preferred to sell tickets below cost in the economy class for a few weeks just to take out Wizz Air from the route, » explain two experts. That add: the presence of the Ultra Low Cost brought an excess of the offer to the market that needed to keep the rates low for a long time to encourage travelers and fly between the two cities. Not only that. « If Etihad offers prosecutors – towards Oceania and Asia – with Wizz Air these would have been really limited ».