Wizz Air signs deal to create hub airport near Katowice

Wizz Air, the low cost airline set up by Jozsef Varadi, the former president of Hungarian carrier Malev, is planning to create one of four European hubs at the airport in Pyrzowice near Katowice. On Wednesday, the company signed the necessary paperwork with Górnośląskie Towarzystwo Lotnicze (GTL), the company that manages the airport. "This is the beginning of long-term cooperation with Katowice. Southern Poland is especially important for us, due to its large population and weak penetration by airlines," said Jozsef Varadi. According to sources, Wizz Air has been conducting talks with many airports in Poland. "I think that our conditions were the best. Negotiations lasted for over four months," said Marek Mutke, president of GTL. The maiden flight is expected to be made in May next year. Flights will connect Poland with Hungary and Western Europe and later on with Eastern Europe. Wizz Air does not yet have permission to operate in Poland and, "The formal motion has not been placed," said Katarzyna Krasnodębska, a spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Office (ULC). (Puls Biznesu, p. 15) M.M.