Wizz Air Malta (W4, Malta International) has completed its certification drive after adding its first A321-200NX ahead of its planned launch on September 27, 2022.
9H-WAM (msn 10389) was transferred from sister carrier Wizz Air (W6, Budapest), where it operated as HA-LVS through September 18, 2022. Following brief maintenance at Katowice Pyrzowice, the aircraft was ferried to Budapest on September 25 and to Malta International the day after. Once induction formalities were finalised in Malta, the A321neo was ferried back to Budapest.
Wizz Air Holdings plans to place 78 aircraft with the new Maltese unit by the Summer 2023 season, Transport Malta Director General for Civil Aviation, Charles Pace, shared.
The Maltese airline has a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AOC rather than a Maltese one. However, its Operating Licence was issued by the Maltese Civil Aviation Directorate.
"We are expecting this airline to register a substantial amount of aircraft in our country, further increasing the number of our already strong 9H- fleet. Malta will continue to support investors who choose Malta as their jurisdiction for the benefit of this very important industry, and ultimately for the strength of our economy," Minister for Transport Aaron Farrugia said as quoted by the Malta Independent daily.
Wizz Air has thus joined its arch-rival Ryanair Holdings, which already has two AOCs in Malta: Lauda Europe and Malta Air. Besides the units in Hungary and Malta, the holding also owns Wizz Air UK and is a joint venture partner in Wizz Air Abu Dhabi.
