Not only do there appear to be opportunities for Wizz Air to add routes from Dubai into Europe, but the company is also reportedly considering using DWC as a hub for flights to India. According to CEO József Váradi, operating to India was scalable under Wizz Air’s business model and now that the airline had entered the Dubai market it “begs the question what’s next” (Gulf News, 27-Oct-2013). He said this is “certainly something being evaluated”. He however said gaining approval from the Indian Government could be “difficult” and could require input from the UAE. The necessary bilateral rights are not in place at present.
Such a move would be the first example of a European LCC developing an intercontinental hub outside Europe. For a continent still adjusting to the idea of LCCs operating to long-haul destinations at all, this would be a radical step.
It raises questions of how to achieve a sustainable cost advantage. Wizz Air is very cost efficient by comparison with European competitors, but regional and Indian LCCs would push it hard. In the meantime, its Dubai push will be closely watched by European LCC competitors, who have previously regarded such a route as a step too far.
http://centreforaviation.com/analys...e-frontier-of-the-narrowbody-lcc-model-136353
