As the first Wizz Air flight takes off under its newly issued UK operating licence, Breaking Travel News here takes a closer look at the Hungary-based carrier. Having grown from its roots in eastern Europe, it is now seeking its place among the largest airlines on the continent, chief executive József Váradi tells editor Chris O’Toole.

Wizz Air has launched two new routes from its London Luton base following the arrival of two new Airbus planes. Flights to the Slovakian capital Bratislava will operate daily, while flights to the Italian port city of Bari will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays until April 18th, before increasing to four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Wizz Air has announced further expansion at its London Luton base, with the allocation of an additional Airbus A321 aircraft to its fleet in 2018. This addition brings the total number of aircraft allocated at London Luton to eight and the total investment to US$860 million, the carrier claims.

Wizz Air will ass Austria as the 44th country in its network by establishing base operations at Vienna Airport. Wizz will open its Austrian base with one Airbus A320 aircraft in June, which will be followed by the deployment of two additional Airbus A321 aircraft in November.

Wizz Air has revealed a further expansion of its operations at London Luton Airport with the three new routes to the Greek capital Athens, the Icelandic town of Keflavik, and the Italian port city of Bari, starting in spring 2018.

Indigo Partners’ has signed a memorandum of understanding for the purchase of 430 A320neo Family aircraft from Airbus. The deal is Airbus’ largest ever single plane order.