Wizz Air Holdings PLC (AIM:WIZZ) is scaling back its presence at Gatwick after concluding that flights from the airport are no longer commercially viable.
József Váradi, the airline’s chief executive, said high operating charges and poorly timed take-off slots were dragging on profitability, prompting a shift of aircraft and routes to Luton, where costs are lower.
The carrier will initially redeploy one aircraft, increasing its Luton-based fleet to 13, while Gatwick’s will drop to seven.
Gatwick has operated near full capacity for years, pushing up fees for airlines and squeezing margins despite rising passenger demand.
A new runway is in development but is not expected to be fully operational until the 2030s.
Váradi stressed that Wizz Air was not abandoning Gatwick but needed to “churn” its network to focus on more profitable bases.
The airline is also trialling a new “Wizz Class” option in December, offering extra space and priority services for an added charge.