Wizz Air is set to become the first airline to operate direct flights between London Gatwick and Medina, Saudi Arabia, with daily services launching on August 1, 2025.
The UK’s second most punctual airline will offer fares starting from £233.99 on the groundbreaking route to the holy city.
The expansion also includes new daily flights from London Gatwick to Warsaw Chopin Airport, beginning August 2, with fares from £35.99.
The Medina service will provide more than 174,000 seats annually to Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, making the destination more accessible for religious tourism and leisure travellers.
The routes will run this year
WIZZ AIR
The new route will be Wizz Air’s second from the UK using the longer-range Airbus A321 XLR aircraft.
The extended reach and efficiency of the new aircraft support Wizz Air’s continued expansion across the Middle East, where it currently operates nearly 100 routes.
The airline maintains a base in Abu Dhabi as part of its extensive regional network. The launch comes as Wizz Air prepares for the delivery of its first A321XLR aircraft, which will initially serve the London Gatwick to Jeddah route from March 31.
Managing director Wizz Air UK Marion Geoffroy commented: “We are delighted to announce this new route from London Gatwick to Medina. It is an important milestone for the airline, as we continue to widen our network from the UK beyond Europe.
“We strive to make flying as accessible as possible, and this new direct route will give thousands of travellers the chance to connect with a city rich in culture and history, for an affordable price.
“We are proud to be the airline that connects iconic cities around the world, and we look forward to providing even more opportunities for travel in the future.”
Wizz Air has expanded services to Warsaw
GETTY
VP of Aviation Development at London Gatwick Stephanie Wear added: “This is an exciting announcement from Wizz Air and complements their route to Jeddah which commences next month.
“Medina will be a new route from London Gatwick, so it is great to be able to offer more choice to our passengers with a second destination in Saudi Arabia, particularly as Medina is considered the second of the three holiest cities in Islamic tradition and therefore very popular for pilgrimages.”
Other airlines have recently announced expansions, including new routes and holiday packages. Jet2 has expanded this year’s holiday programme. This comes as Ryanair unveils a new route to Portugal from UK airports.
