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Jozsef Varadi

Chief Executive Officer, Wizz Air

Search every verified Jozsef Varadi interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Jozsef Varadi, Chief Executive Officer of Wizz Air, discussed the company’s fiscal year 2026 results during an earnings call on June 11, 2026. He reported a pre-tax profit of EUR 27 million, a 16% year-on-year increase in revenue per available seat kilometer, and a 10% rise in passenger numbers to 70 million. Varadi noted that cash holdings exceeded EUR 2 billion, with leverage declining from 4.4 to 3.7, and described the company’s load factor of 36% as one of the highest in the industry, improving year on year. Varadi also addressed the company’s partnership with SpaceX for in-flight internet services, stating that the model is designed to keep costs affordable for passengers while enabling ancillary revenue opportunities. He said the arrangement avoids traditional operational expenses and capital expenditure profiles, and he expressed confidence that Wizz Air’s cash position would remain stable or potentially improve over the coming year, allowing the company to mobilize resources for market opportunities.

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Notable quotes

“People are not going to go there. People are not going to go to the Middle East anytime soon. And people are not going to fly through the Middle East through Middle Eastern carriers simply just because of the level of uncertainties and unpredictability. I think European travel will pick up its pace. European travel will become more popular certainly this summer this year. I think people will look for European options”

“We have over 80% of our fuel requirement hedged over the next 6 months. So effectively whatever happens in the world, it doesn't really impact on us short term. Now of course over time if it keeps dragging for a long period, then we would have more impact. But as far as the short term is concerned, we are very well protected as we are hedged both on fuel and foreign exchange. So our business short term next 6 months ”

“the cost of flying is determined by the weight of the aircraft. The more luggage you bring, the higher the weight of the aircraft will be, the more cost you will create. So I think really what we are trying to do with our luggage policy and back policy is to be as democratic as possible. So you pay for what you use, you pay for the weight, what you add to the aircraft.”

“I think we have a specific issue in Europe. In Europe failure is not a very established standard. So when you fail you fail. In other places like I don't know like the United States actually you are more encouraged to fail.”

“the problem in in Europe is that Europe tends to over regulate uh it is very bureaucratic me I mean there is a problem we regulate it uh and that makes us uncompetitive in the end I'm pretty sure a lot of you read the the dragy report on Europe's competitiveness I mean it's pretty dire uh but I think it's is is a very fair assessment of what is what is happening so I think Europe will need to reinc its stands uh on v”

“so first the problem of ATC I see the problem of ATC is that this system has completely failed to integrate on a European scale uh it is seen as a expression of national sovereignity or whatever uh but it has nothing to do with economic efficiency operational effectiveness as a result the industry is paying a high price for that uh the geopolitical events are not helpful uh to the ATC operation let me just give you a”

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