Wizz Air (W6, Budapest) has committed further capacity to the Middle East, with the announcement of five new routes to Abu Dhabi International, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

From June 3, Wizz Air will start 2x weekly services from both Budapest and Bucharest Henri Coanda. Routes from Cluj-Napoca, Katowice Pyrzowice, and Sofia will begin on September 15/16 and all three will also be flown 2x weekly.

All sectors have block times of around five hours, with the return leg from Abu Dhabi to Katowice being planned at exactly six hours. The five routes remain subject to aviation activities resuming in the respective countries and government approval.

Wizz Air had originally planned to serve Dubai World Central from Bucharest Otopeni, Budapest, Cluj-Napoca, and Katowice prior to this announcement.

In its announcement, the airline also confirmed that its local airline Wizz Air Abu Dhabi (5W, Abu Dhabi International) "is expected to begin operations later this year." Launched in March this year, the start-up will establish its initial base in the autumn with two A321-200neo, but its fleet is expected to grow to 50 aircraft by 2030 and 100 by 2035.

Other LCCs serving Abu Dhabi, according to the ch-aviation capacities module for the week commencing July 20, include Air India Express (IX, Delhi International), IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi International), and GoAir (Mumbai International).