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'Don't want to leave UAE': Wizz Air employees struggle with sudden exit, look for jobs
Hundreds of employees, including pilots, cabin crew, managers, and other staff connected to Abu Dhabi operations, face uncertain future and seek clarity
- PUBLISHED: Thu 17 Jul 2025, 2:37 PM UPDATED: Sun 20 Jul 2025, 10:09 AM
As ultra-low-cost airline Wizz Air prepares to shut down its Abu Dhabi operations from September, 2025, some of its employees are facing an uncertain future. The sudden announcement has left them worried and confused, with many seeking clarity from management about their options.
Wizz Air has hundreds of employees connected to its UAE operations, according to a staff member who spoke to Khaleej Times. This includes pilots, cabin crew, managers, and other staff.
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"We are uncertain of the situation," said the employee, who did not wish to be named. “No staff working directly at the Abu Dhabi airport will be affected by the closure, but beyond that, we don’t know what will happen. The decision was sudden and is being handled at a high-level board meeting. Flights have been full for a long time, so this news came as a surprise to all of us."
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In 2024, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi reported more than a 20 per cent year-on-year growth in seat capacity and the number of passengers carried.
Earlier this week, the carrier announced that it is suspending its Abu Dhabi operation and will exit the joint venture, citing geopolitical situation, regulatory challenges and stiff competition.
Bloomberg reported Wednesday that Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi held a call with employees and offered them the opportunity to take another job across the budget carrier’s European network.
The employee Khaleej Times spoke to confirmed that some staff members have been informed of potential opportunities to transfer to the airline’s other bases in Europe. “Some have been offered positions in places like Malta, Hungary, or the UK. But not everyone will be able to take these offers.”
For those who prefer to stay in the UAE, the options are less clear. “Many employees are now looking for jobs with other airlines operating here or in neighbouring countries,” the employee added. “But with the job market as competitive as it is, there’s no guarantee everyone will find something.”
Another Wizz Air staff member shared the personal impact of the news. “We don’t want to leave the UAE. We have made this country our home, and it’s the best place to live and work for us. Some of us have already started applying for positions with other UAE airlines, hoping to continue our careers here,” she said.
She described how difficult it has been waiting for more details. “The management hasn’t given us a clear plan yet. We receive bits and pieces of information from various sources, but it’s challenging to determine what to believe. The uncertainty is stressful for all of us.”
Several employees expressed sadness over the sudden nature of the announcement. “There was no prior notice or warning,” said the first employee. “One day we were operating flights as usual, and the next, we heard that the Abu Dhabi base would close. It’s upsetting for us, our families, and the many service providers who work with Wizz Air here.”
Wizz Air was one of the low-cost carriers to operate out of Abu Dhabi and helped make international travel affordable for thousands of residents.
“It’s sad to see Wizz Air leave because they gave many people the chance to travel to Europe and beyond at reasonable prices,” said the employee. “We know how much our passengers relied on us, and we feel the loss too.”
Looking ahead, the future of employees who cannot secure new roles remains unclear. “Some may be forced to return to their home countries if they don’t find work in Europe, the UAE, or nearby,” the employee said. “That’s a difficult reality many of us are preparing for, but we hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Many employees remain hopeful. "We are trying to stay positive and keep looking for opportunities,” said the staff member. "The UAE has been a great place to live and work. We want to continue being part of this community in any way we can.”
For now, the employees wait anxiously for official updates from the airline’s management and hope for clearer answers in the weeks ahead.
SM Ayaz Zakir is a Senior Correspondent with a flair for extraordinary stories. His playground? Every corner of the UAE. He often ventures into remote corners of the country to capture compelling news and human interest stories.
As Associate Editor, Sahim Salim helps tell the UAE story like no one else does — and leads a team of reporters that asks the questions to get news and headlines that matter.
