Wizz Air suspends relaunch of Russia-UAE flights after criticism

Funds airline postpones flights between UAE and Russia till additional discover, formally citing ‘provide chain limitations’.

London-listed Wizz Air holds a 49 p.c stake in Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, whose plane carry the European airline's identify and branding [File: Akos Stiller/Bloomberg]

European funds provider Wizz Air has suspended plans to renew flights from the Russian capital, Moscow, to Abu Dhabi within the United Arab Emirates, amid mounting criticism over its choice to relaunch the route.

In a Friday assertion deferring the flights till additional discover, Wizz Air made no point out of a rising social media backlash, which included some calls to boycott the airline, however referred solely to “business provide chain limitations”.

It was not instantly clear what limitations Wizz Air was referring to in its assertion that the route’s relaunch had been placed on maintain.

Airways world wide are going through labour shortages after mass layoffs in the course of the pandemic.

Western sanctions imposed on Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine have restricted the supply of spare elements in Russia, whereas globally there are delays in transport items, partly because of persistent pandemic-related provide chain disruptions.

On Twitter, the airline had responded to criticism by saying the flight can be run by its Abu Dhabi enterprise, which is a registered provider within the United Arab Emirates, working consistent with the Gulf state’s laws.

Different UAE carriers have been working in Russia, it added.

The London-listed Wizz Air holds a 49 p.c stake in Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, whose plane carry the European airline’s identify and branding. Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ owns 51 p.c.

This month, Wizz Air stated flights between Abu Dhabi and Moscow would resume from October. On February 27, it had suspended all fights with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

Wizz Air additionally holds airline working certificates (AOCs) in Britain and Hungary.

European carriers have ceased operations in Russia, whereas Russian airways are banned from European Union airspace as a part of Western sanctions punishing Russia for its position within the battle, which Moscow calls a “particular navy operation”.

The UAE has not imposed sanctions on Russia and has as a substitute sought to keep up a impartial place. Emirati carriers are among the many international airways nonetheless working Russian flights.