WIZZ AIR ANNUAL PROFIT FALLS AFTER £43 MILLION MIDDLE EAST WAR HIT

Wizz Air has reported a fall in annual profit after the low-cost airline took a €50 million (£43.1 million) hit linked to the war across the Middle East. The conflict, which involves Iran, directly affected the carrier's financial performance over the period. The airline disclosed the figures as part of its full-year results. The loss represents a significant charge against earnings for the Budapest-based carrier.

Wizz Air said it could not provide a financial outlook for the year ahead, citing volatility stemming from the ongoing conflict as a key reason for the uncertainty. The airline operates extensively across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, making it more exposed to regional instability than many of its European rivals. Disruption to airspace and routes in the Middle East has forced carriers to reroute flights or suspend services entirely. Wizz Air did not specify in its results which routes or operations were most directly affected by the conflict.

The inability to issue forward guidance limits the information available to investors assessing the airline's near-term performance. Wizz Air has faced a series of financial pressures in recent years, including elevated fuel costs and supply constraints affecting its fleet. The Middle East conflict adds a further layer of uncertainty to an already challenging operating environment for low-cost carriers. The airline has not confirmed any specific measures it intends to take in response to the ongoing regional instability.