Malayalees' favourite budget airline to end Abu Dhabi operations; travel costs likely to surge

ABU DHABI: Wizz Air, the budget airline for Malayalees in the UAE, decided to stop operations in Abu Dhabi from September 1, 2025. The company's new decision is to reduce costs and focus more on European operations.

Wizz Air's extremely cheap tickets are often booked two to three months in advance. Now, passengers will face significantly higher fares compared to other airlines, said Bharat Aidasani, managing partner at travel agency Pluto Travel. People who have already booked tickets with Wizz Air will receive their money back.

The company cited supply chain constraints, geopolitical instability and limited market access as the main reasons for withdrawing from Abu Dhabi. Passengers who booked after August 31, 2025, should contact Wizz Air via email for options for refunds or alternative travel arrangements. The company also said that those who did not book directly with the company should contact their travel agents.

Wizz Air connects Abu Dhabi to various cities around the world. It was one of the budget airlines often chosen by expatriate Malayalees to spend their holidays in Kerala.