WIZZ AIR´S FIRST FLIGHT FROM KOŠICE TO BRISTOL TOOK OFF WITH 151 PASSENGERS ONBOARD

Wizz Air - the largest low cost, low fare airline in Central and Eastern Europe – today inaugurated its air service from Košice to Bristol. It is Wizz Air´s 4th route operated from its Slovak base in Košice. Flights between the metropolis of Eastern Slovakia and the European Green Capital 2015 will be operated on a twice weekly basis (Tuesdays and Saturdays). Fares from 19,99 € (one way, incl. all taxes and a non-optional charges) are available on wizzair.com, also in Slovak language. Together with the existing offer of daily service to London Luton, as well as twice weekly to both Milan Bergamo and Doncaster Sheffield, Wizz Air will offer 13 weekly flights from Košice this winter.

Wizz Air´s A320 was today traditionally welcomed with a water canon salute and passengers were treated with a special cake and muffins, a courtesy of Košice International Airport.

Chairman of the board and CEO of Košice International Airport Michael Tmej: „Today we celebrate another milestone: a third direct air connection between Košice and United Kingdom and a first ever route which connects the region of Eastern Slovakia with South West England. Wizz Air in total offers 1980 departing seats per week on these flights from Košice to the UK which creates a bunch of opportunities for business, tourism sector and family travel.”

Tamara Mshvenieradze, Corporate Communications manager at Wizz Air said: "Today marks a great day for us at Wizz Air, we have established our base in Kosice in June this year and today are launching a third UK route that is operated on our Airbus A320 aircraft with local Slovakian crew. We hope that our newest service will be popular among our Slovakian consumers who now have direct access to Southwest England while attracting more visitors to Slovakia’s second largest city.”

On today´s inaugural flight ceremony the mayor of Košice, Richard Raši said: „It is great that Wizz Air is opening its fourth route from Košice. Connection of Košice and Bristol also means connection of two very strong regions. Thanks to the project of European Capital of Culture 2013 there already is cooperation between the cities based on the creative industry and local artists residencies. Thanks to the direct air service the cooperation can intensified significantly.”

Vicemayor of Košice and chairman of the board of Košice Tourism Renáta Lenártová said: "Every new route from Košice is wonderful news. After adding Bristol there are already eight regular air services to/from Košice and the city together with region of Eastern Slovakia is becoming much more accessible for tourists and foreign investors. I am pleased that also citizens of South West England are now only a 2 hours flight away from Košice.”

Photograph includes:

Istvan Zacharias – vicepresident, Kosice region

Renata Lenartova – vicemayor, city of Kosice Kosice

Richard Rasi – mayor, city of Kosice

Michael Tmej – CEO, Kosice International Airport