Doncaster Sheffield Airport Announces Further Expansion of Passenger Services to European Cities

Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, has announced it will increase the number of flights to Riga and Vilnius from Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

The change by the airline will see both routes grow from twice weekly flights to three times weekly from 22 April 2015 and collectively provide an additional 30,000 seats annually from the airport.

Flights direct to the Latvian capital of Riga from Doncaster Sheffield Airport only began in June but have already enjoyed great interest from passengers. Meanwhile, the Yorkshire airport has been running flights to Vilnius in Lithuania since April 2011.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is Wizz Air’s second largest UK base and the only one in Yorkshire. With new routes commencing from this summer, plus an increase in the frequency of flights between existing destinations, the airline has added a total of 140,000 additional seats since January 2014.

Currently, the airport operates a total of 24 Wizz Air flights per week to eight destinations from Doncaster Sheffield Airport, including Bucharest in Romania and Gdansk, Warsaw, Katowice, Poznan and Wroclaw in Poland.

Chris Harcombe, head of aviation development at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “We are delighted with this extension from Wizz Air and it is another positive step forward for the city region.

“To add more than 100,000 new seats to numerous destinations across Europe is fantastic news and further evidence of the great partnership we have with Wizz Air, the convenience Doncaster Sheffield Airport offers and the huge market we provide airlines access too.

“Adding frequency on popular routes is just as important as starting new routes, allowing more opportunities for people to travel, as well as demonstrating that airlines have the confidence capacity will be filled through high demand. Partnerships with major airlines, such as Wizz Air, are vital for our future success as we constantly look to adding new routes, as well as grow existing flights.”

Wizz Air has established links with numerous key airports in Germany, Sweden, Norway, Northern Ireland, as well as the UK. György Abrán, the airline's Chief Commercial Officer, said: "By doubling our fleet in Riga, so soon after the base opening, we will create more travel opportunities. We hope that our new routes and increased capacity on some existing routes will be welcomed by consumers and benefit the tourism and aviation sectors.”