Wizz Air’s operating profit falls 61.7% as GTF engine issues ground 20% of fleet

European low-cost airline Wizz Air announced a 61.7% drop in its operating profit for the fiscal year 2025 due to problems with the Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan (GTF) engines, which resulted in nearly 20% of the airline’s fleet being grounded. 

In its financial results for the fiscal year 2025 report released on June 5, 2025, Wizz Air announced a net profit of €213.9 million for FY2025. The airline added that it transported 63.4 million passengers in FY2025, an increase from 62 million transported the year before. 

As of March 31, 2025, the airline had total cash of €1,736 million, up from €1,588.9 million in FY2024. Wizz Air reported that total revenue rose by 3.8% to €5,267.6 million in FY2025, up from €5,073.1 million in FY2024.  

According to the airline, the growth was driven mainly by “capacity increase year on year and a stronger load factor”, which was supported by ongoing customer demand in strong markets such as Poland, Italy, and Hungary. 

However, the airline reported a 61.7% drop in operating profit, which decreased to €167.5 million from €437.9 million in FY2024.  

“It was a year of significant challenges given an average of 44 aircraft were parked during the year owing to issues with the GTF engine [Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines], equivalent to almost 20% of the fleet being grounded,” the report read. 

Youngest fleet in Europe despite GTF challenges 

In FY2025, Wizz Air received 26 new A321neo aircraft and secured three former Wizz Air aircraft on dry leases. Additionally, six A320ceo aircraft were redelivered.  

The airline concluded FY2025 with a total of 231 aircraft, including 37 A320ceo, 41 A321ceo, six A320neo, and 147 A321neo aircraft. 

According to the airline, the average age of its fleet currently stands at 4.7 years, making it the youngest among major European airlines. Additionally, the average number of seats per aircraft increased to 227 in March 2025, compared to 224 recorded during the same period last year. 

Wizz Air has faced major challenges with its Airbus A320neo family aircraft since 2023, mainly because of powder metal defects affecting the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM turbofan (GTF) engines. 

As of May 9, 2025, Wizz Air grounded 37 aircraft due to issues with GTF engines. As a result, the airline expects that about 34 aircraft from its fleet will be grounded by the end of the first half of FY2026. 

What to expect from Wizz Air in 2026 

Wizz Air stated that it cannot provide guidance for FY2026 at this time due to the “lack of visibility across trading seasons.” 

The airline said it anticipates a capacity increase (ASKs) of approximately 20% for the entire FY2026. The airline aims to raise the load factor by more than 2% points compared to the previous year, with revenue expected to surpass FY2025 figures based on current bookings.  

Additionally, Wizz Air said that in FY2026 it anticipates receiving 42 new A321neo and eight XLR aircraft. During the same time period, 17 A320ceo and a single A321ceo aircraft will be returned to the airline’s lessors and will exit the fleet. The post Wizz Air’s operating profit falls 61.7% as GTF engine issues ground 20% of fleet appeared first on AeroTime.

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