- In 20 years of activity on the market, the airline already transported over six times Romania’s population
- Maintaining its leading position in the country, Wizz Air operates from 14 airports, has nine local bases and over 235 routes to 83 destinations
- Supporting the aviation sector, the growth of tourism and associated industries, over 1,900 people are employed by the airline in the country
Wizz Air is proud to celebrate today 20 years of operations in Romania, one of its core markets. With an impressive expansion throughout the past two decades, the airline has established a total of nine bases in the country, currently offers over 235 routes from 14 Romanian airports and connects travellers to 83 destinations across 26 countries. Wizz Air is Romania’s largest air operator, having continuously invested in route network development to connect the country to the rest of Europe and beyond. Today, one in two Romanian air passengers travels on Wizz Air.
To mark this milestone, the airline is celebrating its twenty-year anniversary in Târgu Mureș – the airport that received Wizz Air’s very first Romanian flight. The event brings together local authorities, beloved passengers and both the longest-serving and newest cabin crew members.
As a “Thank you!” to loyal travellers choosing Wizz Air for 20 years, lucky passengers across the country were awarded dozens of vouchers for their next trip, on top of an up to 20% special offer available today only for selected flights to and from Romania*, for customers who wish to travel between July 20th - December 10th, 2026. Tickets are available to book online at wizzair.com and via the WIZZ mobile app.
Ian Malin, Chief Commercial Officer at Wizz Air, said: “Marking two decades in Romania, today we celebrate the millions of passengers who have chosen to fly with us since our very first take-off in July 2006. This 20-year anniversary highlights our deep, long-term commitment for the Romanian aviation market and for regional connectivity. We owe this success to the loyalty of our passengers, the talent of our local crew, and the strength of our partners. As we look ahead, our commitment to delivering affordable, reliable air travel to Romanian customers remains as strong as ever. Let’s WIZZ!”
The vice president of the Mureș County Council spoke about the importance of the next two decades. Attila Csibi believes that Mureș County should be an open, constantly developing region that is closely connected to Europe – a place where it is pleasant to visit and to which it is always good to return. “In this vision, the airport plays an essential role. In recent years, we have managed to rebuild an important partnership, and the development of the Transylvania International Airport in Târgu Mureș must remain a strategic priority. Every new route means more than just a new destination: it means new investments, new business partnerships, more tourists, and new opportunities for our county and region,” stated the vice president of the Mureș County Council.
Peti András, Managing Director of Transylvania Airport in Târgu Mureș, emphasized in his speech the airport’s strategic importance for the region’s development. He outlined the major investments made in recent years in infrastructure, the modernization of services, and the airport’s adaptation to the requirements of airlines. “Our goal was for the airport to once again become a reliable and competitive partner. Wizz Air’s return confirms that we are on the right track and marks the beginning of a new phase of development,” said the airport director. He noted that investments will continue, with the aim of increasing the airport’s capacity, improving services for passengers, and developing new flight routes. “A strong airport contributes to the development of the region’s economy, tourism, education, and international relations,” concluded Peti András.
Driving investment and growth in local aviation
Wizz Air’s story in Romania began in July 2006, with its inaugural flight taking off from Târgu Mureș to Budapest. This market entry was later supported by Romania’s accession to the European Union, unlocking greater connectivity across the continent and beyond. Following this historic change, the airline operated its first flight from Bucharest Băneasa to London Luton right on January 1st, 2007; later the same year, the first flight from Cluj-Napoca also took off in October. Then, October 2008 marked the first flight from Timișoara and by May 2012, flights commenced from Bucharest Otopeni – which is now the largest base in the entire Wizz Air network.
The next four years were marked by an outstanding expansion throughout Romania, with the first flights from Craiova in May 2013, from Sibiu in June 2014, from Iași in December 2014, from Constanța in June 2015, from Suceava in August 2016 and from Satu Mare in October 2016. More recently, Wizz Air has started operations from Bacău in October 2020, from Brașov in August 2023 and from Oradea in March 2026.
In the past year alone, the airline has reopened three bases, in Bucharest Băneasa, Suceava and Târgu Mureș, launched operations at Oradea, and reached a total of 41 based aircraft. Since 2006, Wizz Air has steadily increased its investments, cementing Romania as a pivotal market.
A dedicated team of aviation professionals
Many of the above airports became Wizz Air operational bases over these past two decades, hosting dozens of aircraft and becoming the workplace of thousands of talented Romanians with a passion for aviation. Over 1,900 people are now part of the team employed in the country across various roles, including flight and cabin crew, as well as office positions. The airline continues to invest in local talent by actively recruiting cabin crew, with a total of 50 new colleagues joining its Romanian teams this year alone.
Passenger evolution, operational excellence and growth trends
With a total of over 120 million passengers transported to and from Romania during these 20 years – more than six times the country’s population – Wizz Air has shown remarkable growth. During the last calendar year alone, the airline carried nearly 15 million passengers, an increase by 14.5% compared to 2024. This year, from January to July 2026, WIZZ operated more than 42,000 flights and carried more than 8.3 million passengers, with a completion rate of 99.7% and an on-time performance rate of 78.4%.
Following large-scale announcements last year, Wizz Air offers 18.5 million seats on sale in the 2026 calendar year, an increase by 13.6%. The airline has significantly increased its leisure portfolio, responding to demand from Romanians to travel more frequently for short city breaks or holidays – a growth in leisure destinations by 45% compared to the previous summer season.
Wizz Air’s strategic focus is clear: maintaining its leading position in the country, expanding its presence, stimulating local economy and the aviation sector, supporting sustainable aviation practices, and supporting sustainable aviation, tourism and the associated industries in Romania.
Community impact and social initiatives
Wizz Air plays an active role in local social events and initiatives, organising the WIZZ Cluj Marathon, participating in the Bucharest International Airshow and becoming the official air carrier of Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week.
The WIZZ Foundation is also proud to have just signed a partnership with The Wings on Earth Association, dedicated to supporting children and families in need. Furthermore, through its Wizz Air Pilot Academy, the airline also supports the Flight Camp, a summer camp for children with a passion or curious about aviation, established by Wizz Air Captain Mihai Sturzu.
This continuous commitment reflects Wizz Air’s dedication to serving the evolving needs of travellers in Romania since 2006, providing more choices and flexibility for leisure, business and visiting friends and family abroad. Twenty years later, the airline’s promise of affordable connectivity – upon which this success story was build – remains strong as ever as it shapes its next chapter.
* This promotion applies between: 15/07/2026 00.00 CET - 15/07/2026 23.59 CET (“Promotional period”). Up to 20% discount applies to the fare, excluding the administration fee. Up to 20% discount applies only on to/from selected flights: Romania available on https://wizzair.com and WIZZ mobile app during the Promotional period. Travel period is limited between: 20/07/2026 - 10/12/2026. The promotion applies only to bookings made on https://wizzair.com or on the WIZZ mobile app. Promotion does not apply to group bookings.
