Airline improves carbon efficiency as passenger numbers rise
Wizz Air UK passenger numbers were up by 136% in the 12 months to the end of October, and its carbon emissions doubled, the airline said in an announcement to the London Stock Exchange this morning.
The operator this week started flights from Leeds-Bradford Airport. Its announcement in September that it would move its Yorkshire flights from Doncaster-Sheffield Airport has thrown the future of that airport in doubt.
It flew 4.5 million passengers in October, up from 2.9 million in October 2021, when pandemic restrictions reduced international travel. Annual passenger numbers to the end of October increased to 43 million from 18 million in the previous year.
Though its carbon emissions were up 41% in October, and 112% for the year, the firm said its emissions per passenger-kilometre had dropped by 12% for the month and 14% for the year.
“Wizz Air continuously operates amongst the lowest CO2 emissions per passenger/km amongst all competitor airlines,” it noted.
The firm now has a fleet of 172 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, and operates 69 routes to 30 countries.
