Jozsef Varadi, the co-founder and CEO of Wizz Air Holdings Plc, has announced a bold plan to steer the budget airline back on course within the next two years, aiming to restore investor confidence after a series of operational and strategic challenges. Varadi, who helped launch Wizz Air in 2003, has set a target to complete the airline’s turnaround by mid-2027 — timing that coincides with the anticipated resolution of technical issues plaguing the airline’s Airbus fleet and the fading impact of its ill-fated expansion into the Middle East.

“The priority is a drastic improvement in our performance. By 2027, the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engine problems should be behind us,” Varadi said in an exclusive interview from London. “There is no worse scenario than being grounded.”

Wizz, headquartered in Hungary, has faced a daunting couple of years. Its share price has slipped by more than a third since early 2020, with a sharp 35% drop just last year, reflecting investor skepticism amid operational disruptions and external pressures such as geopolitical conflicts. One of the airline’s biggest challenges has been a critical defect in the metal coating of the Pratt & Whitney engines powering its Airbus planes, which forced Wizz to ground a significant portion of its fleet for expensive and lengthy repairs, derailing growth plans.

The airline’s ambitions to grow in the Middle East also suffered a major setback. After opening a base in Abu Dhabi to tap into routes connecting to India, Pakistan, and beyond, Wizz was compelled to retreat from the region following a mix of regulatory hurdles and challenging market conditions exacerbated by ongoing conflicts in surrounding areas. The withdrawal left some aircraft stranded in the UAE and dealt a blow to investor sentiment.

Asked if these difficulties stemmed from misfortune or missteps, Varadi acknowledged a bit of both. “There were unprecedented elements—engine troubles and regional instability. While I stand by many of our decisions, in hindsight, recalibrating our risk appetite might have been wise.”

Analysts back this view, noting the airline’s lack of visibility on the engine issues at the time of entering Abu Dhabi, and the unpredictable regulatory shifts in the Gulf’s aviation sector. Experts consider the recent course correction—exiting an unprofitable region—a smart move to stabilize the operation.
With expansion in the Middle East off the table, Wizz is now sharpening its focus on its core markets in Central and Eastern Europe.

 Facing stiff competition from rivals like Ryanair and EasyJet on western routes, Varadi is betting on enhancing Wizz’s foothold closer to home. The company aims to grow its market share from 26% to 30% or more in the region within five to six years, capitalizing on faster GDP growth and emerging travel hotspots like Albania’s coast and Romania’s Transylvania.

“Competition with Ryanair is a given, but there’s room for both of us to thrive while traditional airlines lose ground,” Varadi said.

A key feature of the recovery plan involves simplifying Wizz’s network and recalibrating fleet strategies. The airline no longer expects to take delivery of all 47 Airbus A321XLR super long-range jets it ordered; instead, Varadi plans to accept roughly a dozen, primarily for UK routes to Saudi Arabia, while converting many others to standard A321neos. Discussions with Airbus are underway to extend aircraft delivery schedules through 2030.

Despite the setbacks, including the heavier-than-expected XLR jets which increased operating costs, Varadi remains resolute. “We are still here,” he said. “It requires adjustments, corrections, and decisive actions, but we are committed to emerging stronger, more efficient, and with a more focused network.”

As Wizz Air charts its path forward, the emphasis is clear: a return to fundamentals, careful risk management, and a laser focus on Central and Eastern Europe to reclaim its place as a dominant low-cost carrier on the continent. The two-year deadline marks a critical milestone that could define the future of the airline and its appeal to investors eager for a turnaround.

On July 26, 2025, Maldives marked its 60th Independence Day with a landmark event: the grand opening of the long-awaited new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport (MLE). President Mohamed Muizzu hailed the $585 million facility as “a pillar of economic independence,” spotlighting the terminal’s pivotal role in transforming the island nation’s tourism-driven economy.

Spanning 72,000 square meters and designed to accommodate 7.5 million passengers annually—more than triple the previous capacity—the terminal is the largest building ever constructed in the Maldives. It features 47 check-in counters, six self-service kiosks, 20 immigration counters, six boarding gates, and 12 aerobridges, along with state-of-the-art baggage handling and real-time tracking systems. The design elegantly blends modern architecture with Maldivian motifs, reflecting the natural beauty and culture of the islands.

Tourism accounts for roughly 21% of the Maldives’ GDP, and this expansion aims to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks that previously restrained growth. According to the World Bank’s April 2025 report, the facility could bolster average economic growth by 5.2% in the medium term, while the International Monetary Fund expects the expanded terminal to sustain tourism momentum crucial to the country’s prosperity.

The project has a complex political and financial history. Originally initiated with India’s GMR Group in 2010, the contract was canceled in 2012 amid political shifts, leading to alternate funding from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and OPEC development funds alongside national budget contributions. These delays and shifting partnerships have significantly increased Maldives’ foreign debt, which now exceeds $8 billion.

Recent years saw diplomatic strains with India, including a 2024 “Boycott Maldives” campaign. However, relations have warmed considerably post Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2025 visit, with tourism officials targeting 300,000 Indian visitors in 2025 through enhanced air connectivity and marketing featuring Bollywood star Katrina Kaif. Early 2025 arrivals rose 9%, fueled by strong interest from China and Europe, signaling a recovery and expansion in key markets.

The terminal’s inauguration was celebrated nationwide with dazzling drone light shows, fireworks, and cultural performances across Malé and neighboring islands, drawing some 6,000 guests.

With this state-of-the-art terminal now operational, Maldives is poised to solidify its standing as a premier global destination, supporting the government’s ambitious $5 billion tourism revenue target for the year. Experts and officials alike regard the enhanced airport capacity and facilities as essential to accommodating growing tourist numbers, diversifying market segments such as multi-generational travel, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), adventure, and wellness tourism, and securing the nation’s economic future.

Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport (AUH) has reached a significant milestone by securing Level 3 accreditation in the Airports Council International (ACI) Customer Experience Accreditation programme, awarded in July 2025. This achievement highlights the airport’s unwavering commitment to delivering world-class guest experiences and reflects its progress in integrating customer experience into every facet of operations, placing passengers at the core of its service philosophy.

The accreditation comes amid strong passenger growth, with AUH welcoming 15.5 million passengers in the first half of 2025—a 13.2% year-on-year increase. This follows impressive growth rates of 28.1% in 2024 and 44.5% in 2023. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, noted, “As we celebrate 17 consecutive quarters of growth, including a strong performance in the first half of 2025, we remain sharply focused on enhancing the guest experience. Achieving Level 3 accreditation demonstrates our ability to balance expansion with service excellence.”

To earn the Level 3 status, AUH introduced several passenger-centric initiatives praised by ACI. These include dedicated passenger focus groups to gather traveller insights and a guest shadowing programme where staff experience the end-to-end airport journey from a passenger’s viewpoint. Enhanced collaboration is fostered through internal sharing of Voice of the Customer reports and strong cooperation with service partners, embedding a customer-centric approach across the operational ecosystem.

The ACI accreditation, the only global programme evaluating how airports integrate customer experience into their core strategies, reflects a deeper cultural transformation at Zayed International Airport. Employees, stakeholders, and passengers actively contribute to shaping the guest journey, underscoring a commitment to continuous improvement.

This achievement reaffirms Abu Dhabi Airports’ vision of elevating every passenger touchpoint through innovation, collaboration, and service excellence, setting new benchmarks in the global aviation industry.

A 25-year-old Chinese national is slated to face court on August 10 following his arrest for allegedly stealing from a fellow passenger aboard a flight from Dubai to Singapore.

The incident came to light early on August 8 at around 5:30 a.m., when the police received a report regarding a suspected theft in the business class cabin of the flight.

Preliminary investigations revealed that while the victim was asleep, his wife witnessed the suspect allegedly removing the victim’s bag from the overhead compartment. Upon being questioned by the victim’s wife, the man promptly returned the bag but aroused suspicion.

The victim was then alerted, and after the plane landed at Changi Airport, authorities from the Airport Police Division confronted the suspect. Unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions, the man was arrested before he could board his next flight.

The specific airline involved has not been confirmed, though the route from Dubai International Airport to Changi Airport is served by Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

If found guilty, the suspect faces a potential prison sentence of up to three years, a fine, or both. This case highlights the vigilance of passengers and the swift response by law enforcement in safeguarding travel security.

A Bangladeshi man was arrested at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Friday while attempting to travel to Germany using a fake Indian passport, officials said. He entered India legally on a Bangladeshi passport under the name Bibhas Roy from Chittagong but overstayed his visa. To evade detection, he obtained an Indian passport under the assumed name Soumik Barua.

Immigration officials stopped him at the airport for questioning when they noticed discrepancies in his travel documents. During the search, they found his expired Bangladeshi passport, confirming his true nationality. After interrogation, the man was handed over to airport police and formally arrested.

He was traveling to Dubai for a connecting flight to Germany when caught. This arrest comes amid a broader crackdown by state police and the Enforcement Directorate on a passport racket that has helped hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals acquire fraudulent Indian citizenship documents to travel abroad. The probe has already led to arrests, including that of a suspected ring leader who allegedly facilitated the issuance of Indian identity documents such as Aadhaar cards and driving licenses to Bangladeshis, which were later used to procure Indian passports.

This incident highlights ongoing challenges in immigration and border security, particularly with regard to detecting forged or misused travel documents. Indian authorities are continuing vigorous efforts to dismantle such networks and prevent illegal migration and document fraud, balancing enforcement with humanitarian considerations.

In this case, the suspect had entered India through the Haridaspur border with a tourist visa but remained in the country after its expiration. He was intercepted just before boarding his international flight, underlining the importance of thorough immigration checks at exit points.

In a significant stride toward regional stability, Turkey on Saturday warmly welcomed the historic peace agreement brokered between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The accord, signed on Friday during a high-profile meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, also includes plans for a strategically vital transit corridor aimed at boosting energy exports and trade through the South Caucasus.

The newly established peace deal marks a breakthrough in the protracted conflict between the two neighbors. Central to the agreement is the creation of a U.S.-sanctioned transport route passing through Armenia, connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, which borders Turkey. This corridor, dubbed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), is expected to operate under Armenian jurisdiction, traversing the area near the Iranian border.

Turkey, a NATO ally and strong supporter of Azerbaijan during past conflicts, expressed hope that this corridor will soon open, describing it as a game-changer for regional connectivity. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking from Cairo, highlighted the corridor's potential to “link Europe with the depths of Asia via Turkey,” calling it “a very beneficial development” for economic cooperation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reinforced Ankara’s commitment to the peace process by engaging directly with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Erdogan praised the agreement and affirmed Turkey’s readiness to support enduring peace in the often-turbulent South Caucasus region.

The region, rich in energy resources and a crucial transit zone bridging Russia, Europe, Turkey, and Iran, has long been mired in ethnic conflicts and closed borders. This breakthrough could open new avenues for energy transport, trade, and diplomacy, overcoming decades of division.

Iran welcomed the accord as a significant move toward “lasting regional peace,” while cautioning against foreign interventions near its borders that might threaten stability.

As regional powers watch closely, this historic peace pact and the proposed transit corridor could redefine the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus, fostering cooperation and economic growth in an area long marked by conflict.