Wizz Air offers buyouts to pilots based at Luton Airport

It comes after the airline announced it cut its winter fleet by 5 percent

Author: Rory GannonPublished 23rd Oct 2026

Wizz Air has reportedly offered buyouts, equivalent to voluntary redundancies, to some of its pilots based at London Luton Airport.

The British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) said on Friday (October 23rd) that the airline had made the offer at Luton, its primary UK base.

BALPA confirmed a Bloomberg News report that Wizz had asked first officers at Luton to register expressions of interest in leaving on voluntary enhanced terms.

BALPA said in an emailed statement: "BALPA is supporting and advising its members on the offer that has been made".

It said its UK pilots would welcome constructive dialogue with Wizz.

The Hungarian budget airline cut its winter capacity by 5% last month. The airline said the cut was aimed at offsetting high jet fuel prices triggered by the Iran war.

At its most recent capital markets day event, Wizz said it employs a total of 2,650 pilots.

Latvian airline airBaltic filed for bankruptcy in September, amid a sector-wide crisis resulting from the Iran conflict.

Wizz Air has been contacted for comment.

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