Wizz Air Holdings PLC (LON:WIZZ) said it expects only a gradual recovery in air travel this summer as losses for the year to end-March 2021 rose to almost €600mln (£520mln).
The Central Europe-based carrier said renewed travel restrictions due to the new wave of Coronavirus in Europe had affected the start of this financial year, though it expects a pick-up as vaccination programmes are rolled out.
In the short term, Wizz Air said it was adjusting capacity to the travel conditions in any country and would adjust flights on a market-by-market basis as opportunities arise.
Losses for the year just ended are expected to be in a range of €570-590mln including a €95mln fuel hedge write-down but József Váradi, chief executive, said it was well-financed to continue to weather the storm.
“Despite the continued impact of the pandemic, we are well-prepared with one of the strongest balance sheets in the airline industry,” he said.
Wizz Air had total cash/cash equivalents of €1.62bn at the March year-end, with a cash burn of €87mln in the fourth quarter of the year.
There was no guidance for the year to March 2022 because of the uncertainties around travel restrictions.