The Geopolitics of Airlines
Air travel faces a new and unfamiliar future
A leading low-cost Hungarian airline, Wizz Air, has announced that it is ending a joint venture (JV) in the UAE with Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company, known as “Wizz Air Abu Dhabi,” on August 31. From September 1, Wizz Air will no longer fly to Zayed International Airport (Abu Dhabi), ending the company’s entire Gulf operations.
While the carrier has been struggling in recent times, in particular due to mechanical problems with specific engines, the company’s CEO, József Váradi, cited “geopolitical instability” as one of the reasons for the latest decision.
Wizz Air is, of course, referring to the latest flare-up between Israel and Iran, which required global airlines to navigate a barrage of airspace closures, missile and drone strikes, and even attacks on civilian airports for almost two weeks. The slightest miscalculation, and airlines could have experienced a serious incident. And the Middle Eastern chaos came after the brief India-Pakistan war that closed chunks of airspace in Asia out of the blue.
However, the decision to terminate the JV after the pause in fighting is quite telling.
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