Wizz Air Opens Its New € 30 Million Training Centre

Wizz Air, the fastest growing airline in Europe and the leading low-cost carrier in Central and Eastern Europe, celebrated today the opening of its new, 3,800-square metre state-of-the-art Training Centre in Budapest, Hungary. The official opening ceremony marks an important milestone in the history of the airline.

Wizz Air’s brand new Training Centre, which was developed by WING, the leading Hungarian real estate company, is one of Europe’s most advanced aviation training centres equipped with two Airbus A320 CAE 7000XR Series full-flight simulators. As part of a 10-year agreement, CAE is also providing training centre operation services to Wizz Air by operating and maintaining the training equipment suite for the airline at the new facility.The training centre will also have a cutting edge Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainer by TFCas well as a V9000 Commander Next-Generation Fire Trainer by Flame Aviation. It is an integrated centre where all pilots and cabin crew trainings can be carried out.

Accommodating up to 300 trainees per day at full capacity – coming from all over Wizz Air’s network – the region’s newest training centre is able to host classroom trainings as well as flight and cabin simulation exercises. Initial and recurrent ground trainings and type ratings are also part of the training offering.

The new Training Centre hosts the Wizz Air Pilot Academy, launched in September in Hungary, which offers young and ambitious individuals with no or little flying experience the unique opportunity to obtain a Commercial Pilot’s License and the perspective of working as a pilot at Wizz Air. Within the framework of the program, WIZZ will support all cadets enrolled in the program and meeting certain terms and conditions, by pre-financing a significant part of their tuition fees in order to lower the barrier for them to start their career as pilots. The high-quality trainings, following Wizz Air’s standards, will be provided by contracted pilot schools.

The opening of the new Wizz Air Training Centre represents a more than € 30 million investment, as well as an investment in world class talents who are now able to reach their dreams of becoming pilots or cabin crew members at this ultra-modern complex, conveniently located in the heart of Central Europe, Budapest.

With an option of adding a 3rd simulator, the company is clearly up for an unprecedented growth and to achieve the goal of becoming an airline operating 300 aircraft.

József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air, said: “Wizz Air prides itself on an outstanding safety culture and we are excited to open this brand new state-of-the art training centre here in Budapest, which marks an important milestone in the airline’s history. This new facility which hosts Wizz Air’s pilot academy as well as recurrent trainings of our current crew, brings a new era in crew training and ensures that Wizz Air is ready to become an airline of three hundred aircraft and ten thousand crew members carrying a hundred million passengers per year. We are delighted to bring world class talent from all over the WIZZ network to Hungary and to train the crew members of the future at this modern all-in-one training centre.”

Marc Parent, President and CEO of CAE, said: “It is a privilege to be here today and to celebrate the grand opening of the Wizz Air new state-of-the-art training centre in Budapest. We have a long history with Wizz Air as their training partner and we are excited to expand our relationship with them by providing training centre operation services and two new Airbus A320 full-flight simulators. We look forward to growing our relationship over the next 10 years.”

Noah Steinberg, Chairman and CEO at WING, said:

“Wing is Hungary’s leading property company. It is our stated goal to provide world class property solutions for the major corporations active in Hungary as a long term, reliable partner. Wizz Air is one of these companies, a European market leader operating from a Hungarian base. The new Wizz Air Training Centre incorporating state-of-the-art technology is of strategic importance to the Hungarian economy. Wing developed the project on the basis of a long term lease to Wizz Air. The property is in close proximity to the Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport and represents the most advanced aviation training centre in Hungary and throughout the region. Wing is committed to creating long-term architectural, functional and economic value through the development and operation of our properties, as illustrated by recently delivered projects such as the new Telekom Headquarters, the new Ericsson House HQ building, the recently opened ibis Styles Budapest Airport Hotel, and now the new Wizz Air Training Centre.”

Tamás Menczer, State Secretary for Information and International Representation of Hungary, said:

“The Hungarian government set two main goals when it made international trade a priority of its foreign policy: to help domestic companies compete in export markets and to attract foreign investment to Hungary. Neither is possible without a robust transport infrastructure. As a small and open economy, it is vital that Hungary is easily and quickly accessible, and that's where Wizz Air plays a pivotal role as Central and Eastern Europe's largest airline. It is no coincidence that Wizz Air was named European Airline of the Year in 2017. We congratulate everyone who contributed to the building of this futuristic and impressive facility. It was a remarkable achievement to complete it within eight months. The success of Wizz Air is the success of the Hungarian economy, so the company can continue to count on the government's support in economic, diplomatic and other areas.”