Low-cost airline Wizz Air could set up base in Barcelona after airport expansion

The Eastern European low-cost airline, Wizz Air, could establish a base in Barcelona when the airport is expansion is complete.

"It could be a possibility," Andras Rado, head of communications at Wizz Air, told Catalan News during an event with media outlets in Barcelona on Tuesday morning. He did not give any more details, saying: "we have to study all possibilities and know when the third runway expansion is completed."

Rado added that he "does not know if the airline will open a base at Barcelona before the third runway is completed, but at the moment, there are no plans to set up a base in Spain."

He highlighted that the project to expand the airport's runway to host long-haul flights is part of the airport's development, which is "always good news, as it means that the airport, as well as the city or the territory, understand that tourism and good flight connections are very important for the economy."

The airport expansion would extend the runway closest to the sea to facilitate long-haul aircrafts' operations, and while it has been announced by the Catalan president and the airport manager, AENA, has confirmed the budget, there are still some procedures pending before works can start.

Third-largest airline

Wizz Air started its operations in Barcelona in October 2004, growing year after year over 20 years of operations from the Catalan capital's T2 terminal.

Between January and September 2025, the company had 2.2 million passengers flying to or from Barcelona, which is a 13.8% increase on 2024 figures. During this year, it will offer a total of 3.3 million seats, with an average occupancy of around 95%.

Wizz Air operates from 16 airports across Spain, including Barcelona-El Prat and Girona-Costa Brava, offering 120 routes to 15 countries. During the first nine months of the year, it was used by 6.7 million passengers. In 2024, the airline moved 7.9 million travelers to and from Spain.

The company currently receives a new airplane every ten days and has a fleet of 242 aircraft, with the goal of reaching 500 by 2032.

"We want to grow in Barcelona and across Spain," Rado told media outlets. "These are very important markets and we do not want to halt operations in Spain, we want to continue growing and offering more seats."

Their goal is to keep "connecting Barcelona not only with Europe's big cities, but also off-the-beaten-track destinations, such as unknown but more interesting cities," he said. "We will not reduce capacity," he added in reference to Ryanair's decision of canceling routes to several airports across Spain due to, they claim, "excessive airport taxes."

"If there are available slots, we will take them, but it is not our main strategy," he said, as the company has seen changes to their clients' profiles, as in the past "Eastern European residents moved to Western Europe to work, live, and have a better life, but now, many have returned to their home countries, and can spend more, not only to visit their family members abroad, but also to enjoy life and go on holidays," Rado told Catalan News.

Hand luggage fees

Wizz Air has been confirmed as the sixth airline fined by Spain's consumer ministry for charging passengers to bring their hand luggage into the cabin.

"I cannot say anything else other than we are the sixth airline, but we must wait until the case is closed," Rado said.

Back in July, it was not reported which airline was accused of "abusive practices," such as charging for carry-on luggage or adding a cost to book adjacent seats for people with disabilities or minors, as a statement from the ministry said.

The General Consumer Directorate, in charge of the sanction, stated that fines vary between €10,001 and €100,000 if it is considered severe, or between €100,001 and €1,000,000 if very severe.