Wizz Air has applied to the US Department of Transport (DOT) for permission to be able to launch transatlantic flights between the UK and US.
The European budget airline’s UK subsidiary has asked the DOT for a foreign air carrier permit to offer both scheduled and chartered flights between the UK and US.
In its application, Wizz Air said it “presently intends only to conduct passenger charter service, which will vary depending on seasonal and charterer demand”.
Although, the airline is applying to the DOT to be granted “the full scope of rights available under the US-UK Open Skies Agreement to give it the flexibility to commence scheduled service in the future, without need to submit a new application to DOT”.
Wizz Air has also requested “expedited review and processing” of its DOT application to allow it to begin charter services as soon as possible.
The company added that securing regulatory authority from the DOT for UK-US flights would result in “increased travel choices, greater service options and enhanced competition”, which would benefit passengers in both countries.
Wizz’s current UK fleet is made up of 21 Airbus A321 aircraft, including three A321XLRs, which would be able to serve transatlantic routes between the UK and US.