Hungarian-founded low-cost carrier Wizz Air announced on Monday that it will suspend operations at its subsidiary, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, effective September 1st.

The decision was made due to “operational challenges,” including geopolitical issues, such as the Israeli-Iran conflict, as well as reliability issues with Pratt & Whitney engines.

CEO József Váradi stated that the decision was difficult but correct under the circumstances. The company will now focus on its European network, which remains profitable.

The venture began amid the pandemic, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company. The plan was to take advantage of the high demand for flights in the region to serve passengers flying to other destinations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Hot and Harsh Environment

With a fleet of 12 A321 jets, eight first-generation and four A321neo, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi has long been experiencing problems with its Pratt & Whitney engines.

The reason is that these turbofans have lower service life in hot and harsh environments, requiring frequent maintenance.

The situation was further complicated by the hostile climate in the region following Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, which triggered several conflicts, including a confrontation with Iran.