UAE travellers planning budget getaways to Eastern Europe and Central Asia with Wizz Air Abu Dhabi may need to rethink their plans, as the airline has announced a series of route suspensions and cancellations from its base in the capital.

Flights to Belgrade and Sarajevo, two of the carrier’s key Balkan destinations, are being discontinued, with final flights set for July 19 and August 31, respectively. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is the only airline operating direct flights from Abu Dhabi to both cities.

Other affected routes include:

• Sofia and Cluj – already removed from the schedule
• Varna – final flight on July 14
• Tirana – last flight on July 20
• Kutaisi – ends July 29

Additional routes facing temporary suspension:

• Budapest – paused until September 1
• Vienna – returns September 21
• Krakow – off the schedule from July 29 to September 19
• Katowice – resumes October 26
• Astana and Samarkand – suspended until November 1

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has cited ongoing fleet disruptions due to engine inspections, particularly affecting aircraft operating in dusty environments like the Middle East. This has impacted routes network-wide, including from its UAE base.

What to do if your flight is cancelled:

Passengers affected by cancellations can contact a dedicated 24-hour hotline at +361 677 7530 (Hungary-based; international charges may apply).

If only your return flight is cancelled but the outbound is operating, you can request a full refund for the entire trip via Wizz Air’s regular call centre.

However, the airline has noted difficulties in reaching affected passengers who booked through third-party online travel agencies, as many platforms do not share customer contact details with the airline.

Travel tip for UAE residents:

If you’re planning a summer escape to Europe, it may be worth checking for alternate routes from Dubai or flying into nearby cities and using regional trains or budget carriers. Options via Wizz Air’s other hubs (Budapest, Vienna, etc.) or other low-cost airlines like flydubai or Air Arabia may help bridge the gap.

Launched in 2021, Wizz Air’s flights to Belgrade and Sarajevo had grown popular with UAE residents seeking affordable city breaks. In 2023 alone, the airline flew over 82,000 passengers on the Belgrade route.

More route changes are possible in the coming weeks, so if you’re booked with Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, it’s best to double-check your itinerary or consider flexible travel options.