Wizz Air, one of Europe’s leading ultra-low-cost airlines, has been named the second-best airline in Central Europe at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, one of the aviation industry’s most respected global honours.
Often referred to as the “Oscars of the aviation industry”, the World Airline Awards have recognised airline excellence since 1999. The results are determined through a global passenger satisfaction survey that is independent of the airlines: any carrier can be nominated, and airlines pay no entry or registration fees. This makes the recognition particularly meaningful, as it reflects the direct views and experiences of travellers.
Wizz Air’s second-place ranking in Central Europe recognises the work of its more than 10,000 colleagues, representing over 100 nationalities, who help deliver safe, reliable and friendly travel every day. The airline extends its sincere thanks to its pilots, cabin crew and operational and office teams for their dedication, and to the millions of passengers who choose to fly with Wizz Air and place their trust in the airline.
Ian Malin, Chief Commercial Officer of Wizz Air, said, “Being voted the second-best airline in Central Europe by passengers is an achievement that belongs first and foremost to our people. I want to thank every member of the Wizz Air team—especially our pilots and cabin crew, who represent us in front of our customers every day—for their professionalism, energy and care. I also thank our passengers for choosing Wizz Air and for recognising the progress we are making. Their trust motivates us to keep improving while staying true to our purpose: making air travel affordable and accessible to more people.”
Wizz Air operates an extensive network of more than 1,000 routes across close to 50 countries with a fleet of 273 aircraft. In 2025, the airline carried 68.6 million passengers and operated close to 335,000 scheduled flights, connecting communities, families, businesses and holidaymakers across Europe and beyond.
The recognition comes as Wizz Air continues to implement its €14 billion Customer First Compass transformation programme, a three-year investment designed to improve every stage of the customer journey. Built around the four pillars of Product, Price, Service and Communication, the programme is strengthening operational performance, expanding digital and self-service solutions, introducing new products and enhancing the support available to customers before, during and after their flights.
One year into the programme, Wizz Air reported an average flight completion rate of 99.5%, expanded its fleet and launched more than 345 new routes. The airline also introduced services including WIZZ Class, WIZZ Link, Disruption Assistance and further enhancements to the MyJourney feature in the Wizz Air app—all while continuing to offer some of the lowest fares in Europe.
The Skytrax recognition reinforces Wizz Air’s commitment to listening to its customers, investing in its people and delivering an increasingly reliable, simple and affordable travel experience across its growing network.
