Wizz Air (W6) announced on 8 July 2026 that it will open its first two operational bases in Spain, at Valencia Airport (VLC) and Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD). The Hungarian low-cost carrier will also begin flying domestic routes inside Spain for the first time in its history, starting in November 2026, AeroTime reported.
The Valencia base opens on 2 November, followed by Madrid on 3 November. Each base will host two Airbus A321neo aircraft, and the expansion is expected to create more than 150 direct jobs for pilots and cabin crew based in Spain.
Valencia And Madrid Become Wizz Air’s First Spanish Bases
Wizz Air already flies to 16 Spanish airports and operates 151 routes to 15 countries from the country, but it has never based aircraft there before this announcement. The airline has carried more than 15 million passengers in Spain over 22 years of operations in the country.
The Valencia base will support 23 routes to eight countries and lift the airport’s Wizz Air capacity by 76%, to 3.6 million seats a year. The Madrid base will run 27 routes to 12 countries and raise capacity there by 48%, to 4.8 million seats.
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Domestic Routes Mark a First for Wizz Air in Spain
For the first time, Wizz Air will compete directly on routes between Spanish cities. From Valencia, the airline will fly daily to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) and Bilbao (BIO), five times weekly to Asturias (OVD), four times weekly to Santiago de Compostela (SCQ), and twice weekly to Santander (SDR).
From Madrid, Wizz Air will link the capital to three of the same domestic points: Asturias, Palma de Mallorca and Santiago de Compostela. Bilbao gains its own new domestic connections too, with direct flights to Malaga (AGP) and Santiago de Compostela.
In total, the two bases add 11 new domestic routes and five new international ones. The airline says the mix is designed to serve both leisure and business travellers moving around Spain.
New International Links and Higher Frequencies
Valencia also gains new international connections. Wizz Air will fly daily to Naples (NAP), Italy, and three times weekly to Brasov (GHV), Romania. The airline will double its current daily Milan-Malpensa (MXP) service to twice a day.
Madrid picks up a new daily route to Pisa (PSA), Italy, alongside frequency increases on established links. Flights to London Luton (LTN) and Rome Fiumicino (FCO) will run twice daily, and Milan-Malpensa will rise to three flights a day.
Wizz Air is also growing beyond its two new bases. From 26 October 2026, a new route will connect Almeria (LEI) to the carrier’s existing base in Bucharest-Otopeni (OTP), Romania. A day later, three new routes will launch from London Luton to Malaga, Asturias and Granada (GRX).
The London Luton additions bring Wizz Air’s total UK-Spain network to 11 destinations. The carrier launched its first-ever nonstop routes between the UK and Spain almost exactly one year earlier, in July 2025.
Jobs And Capacity Growth Behind the Expansion
The new bases are expected to generate more than 80 direct jobs each, adding up to over 150 direct roles for pilots and cabin crew. Wizz Air also estimates the move will support more than 5,500 indirect jobs across both cities combined.
Wizz Air has opened recruitment for pilots and cabin crew who will be based in Spain. The airline frames the hiring drive as part of a broader push to root its operations locally rather than fly aircraft in and out from bases elsewhere in Europe.
Executives And Officials React to the Announcement
Wizz Air CEO József Váradi said the airline is delighted to open its first Spanish bases. “Delighted” was the word he used to describe the decision, which he tied to the airline’s long-term commitment to the Spanish market and its plans for further route and job growth there.
Aena’s data and aeronautical market director, Ignacio Biosca Vancells, highlighted Wizz Air’s rapid climb in the Spanish market. He noted that the airline has risen from 18th place among carriers at Aena airports in 2019 to seventh place by passenger volume today, adding, “si sigue así, seguirá subiendo en el ranking” — that if the trend continues, the airline will keep climbing the rankings.
Spain’s transport ministry also welcomed the news. Benito Núñez Quintanilla, secretary general for air and maritime transport, called the new bases “un buen día para la conectividad aérea de España” — a good day for Spain’s air connectivity — and said the expansion adds value to domestic tourism.
How This Expansion Compares with Wizz Air’s Other 2026 Base Moves
The Spanish bases are not an isolated move. Wizz Air opened a new base at Turin Airport in Italy in September 2026, its 40th base worldwide, and that base itself feeds five new Spanish routes to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Malaga and Bilbao.
Wizz Air has pursued a similar playbook outside Europe. In late 2025, the carrier confirmed plans for a base at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Israel, a move CEO Váradi framed around wanting to be seen as a good corporate citizen in the market it enters.
That Israeli plan drew public criticism from flag carrier El Al, which argued the added competition could harm Israeli airlines. Spain’s reaction has run in the opposite direction, with Aena and government officials publicly welcoming Wizz Air’s growth rather than opposing it.
Wizz Holidays Launches Alongside the Spanish Growth
Wizz Air used the same announcement to confirm the Spanish launch of Wizz Holidays. The platform lets customers book flights together with hotels, transfers and full itineraries in a single reservation.
The package product gives Wizz Air a second revenue stream tied directly to its new domestic and international capacity in Spain. Airlines increasingly bundle package holidays alongside base openings to capture demand created by new routes.
What The Expansion Means for Travelers and Competition
Spain’s domestic market has traditionally been served by Iberia, Vueling and Ryanair, alongside high-speed rail on many of the busiest corridors. Wizz Air’s entry gives travellers a new low-cost option on routes such as Valencia-Bilbao and Madrid-Santiago de Compostela, where rail journeys are longer or involve changes.
Wizz Air’s basic fares typically include only a small under-seat bag, with larger cabin bags, checked luggage and seat selection charged separately. Travellers comparing options should weigh the full cost of a trip rather than the headline fare shown at booking.
Regional airports stand to gain the most from the new domestic links. Santiago de Compostela, Santander and Asturias all gain direct connections to Spain’s two largest cities for the first time on Wizz Air, giving these airports extra traffic outside the peak summer tourist months.
Wizz Air’s move also reflects its broader growth targets. The airline expects to carry 89 million passengers in 2026 and is targeting 100 million by 2027, using a young Airbus A321neo fleet built around point-to-point flying and a growing network of local bases.