Sky Europe and Wizz Air are Europe's Fastest-Growing Low-Fare Carriers

It's not only Asia, the Middle East and the U.S. where strong growth is occurring in commercial aviation; Europe is also experiencing rapid growth.  Wizz Air and Sky Europe are emerging as Central and Eastern Europe's fastest-growing low-fare carriers, according to Aviation Week magazine.

Both airlines have been taking advantage of the EU's eastward expansion, which has added 10 countries to the EU common aviation market. 

In key Central and Eastern European markets, capacity has skyrocketed, according to GCW Consulting's Vice President Anita Mosner.  Low-fare carriers combined to achieve a 41% market share in Poland, 24% in Hungary, and 14% in the Czech Republic. Slovakia's Bratislava Airport, the main base for Sky Europe, has experienced a growth in seat capacity of 424% in three years.  Budapest capacity is up 72%; Prague is up 62%; Vienna 35% and Warsaw 75%.  But growth at some of the areas regional airports, which have had little air service in the past, is even outstripping those impressive major airport growth rates.

Sky Europe stated operations in 2002 on a single domestic route. They now have a fleet of 16 aircraft with 16 more on order.  Sky Europe has built up a network of 70 routes in 19 European countries.

Privately-held Hungarian airline Wizz Air expects to post its first-ever profit this year.  The airline launched operations mid-year 2004, a mere 19 days after Poland and Hungary joined the EU.  They have a fleet of 9 Airbus A320s; Wizz Air placed an order with Airbus for 12 dditional aircraft last year at the Farnborough Air Show -- and placed a follow-on order this year for 20 more.