Wizz Air is seeking US approval to operate flights between the UK and the US as it seeks to tap into the lucrative transatlantic market after scaling back its Middle East expansion plans last year.
The company’s British subsidiary has applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation for an exemption and foreign airline permit to operate scheduled and charter flights between the two countries, asking the agency for authority to begin operations “as soon as possible,” a filing revealed on Friday.
Wizz Air UK had sought permission to begin passenger services under the 2020 air transport agreement between the two countries, known as the Open Skies Agreement.
The company said it initially intends to run only passenger charter services based on seasonality and customer demand, but is seeking broader authority for future scheduled flights.
The company announced in July last year that it would exit its loss-making Abu Dhabi operations to focus on its key Eastern European market, after escalating political tensions in the region dented its expansion ambitions in the region.
The airline declined to comment. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
(Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
