By Steve Hartridge, published 19/08/20

Wizz Air has confirmed the opening of a new base at Gatwick Airport just days after announcing a base at Doncaster Sheffield.

Previously, it operated from just one UK base, at London Luton.

At Gatwick it will start with four new routes to Athens, Naples, Lanzarote and Malta from October 22.

It will allocate one Airbus A321 aircraft at the West Sussex airport, from where it has been flying since 2016.

At Doncaster Sheffield it will launch seven new routes to Alicante, Malaga, Larnaca, Faro, Lublin, Kosice and Suceava, also in October.

Wizz Air UK Managing Director Owain Jones said: “We stand ready to continue to support the UK’s recovery with further growth at key airports, if slot-blocking by other airlines is stopped allowing WIZZ to deliver on our promise of providing affordable travel for all.”

Gatwick Chief Executive Stewart Wingate said: “This is encouraging news for Gatwick, particularly at a time when the industry has been so negatively impacted by Covid-19.

“Having a new aircraft based at Gatwick underpins the resilience of our business for the long-term and ensures we continue to offer our passengers great choice. This is a welcome indication of the positive conversations we are having with airlines – both existing and new – about securing Gatwick’s future.”