Wizz Air Hungary, legally known as Wizz Air Hungary Ltd., is the Budapest-based subsidiary of Wizz Air Holdings. Established in 2003, it was the very first airline in the Wizz Air family and remains the largest operator within the group. Its headquarters and primary hub are at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport.
From its home base in Hungary, the airline has steadily expanded its reach across Europe and into the Middle East. Wizz Air Hungary today flies a modern Airbus fleet to more than 150 destinations, with a strong presence in Central and Eastern Europe.
Wizz Air Hungary Pilot Salary
The Budapest hub makes it convenient for travellers from Hungary and neighbouring countries, and the airline has become a dominant player in the Hungarian market, carrying millions of passengers every year at some of the lowest fares in Europe.
Photo: Wizz AirWizz Air Hungary First Officer Salary
First officers form the entry-level pilot group at Wizz Air Hungary. They sit alongside the captain, sharing responsibilities for navigation, communication with air traffic control, and monitoring the aircraft’s systems. Many first officers join directly through the Wizz Air cadet program, while others arrive with flying hours logged at regional or training carriers.
In 2025, Wizz Air Hungary first officers typically earn between €3,500 and €6,500 per month (around US$3,900–7,200). On top of their base salary, they receive about €0.02–0.04 for every kilometre flown, plus €12 per landing.
Wizz Air Hungary Captain Salary
Captains are the most experienced pilots in the airline’s ranks and are ultimately responsible for the aircraft and everyone on board. Wizz Air Hungary usually promotes captains internally once they have accumulated the required hours, although the airline does occasionally run direct entry captain schemes when expansion demands it.
In 2025, Wizz Air Hungary captains earn between €9,000 and €15,000 per month (about US$9,800–16,300). Their additional distance and landing pay mirrors that of the first officers, though with the higher base rate, total earnings for captains can climb significantly when rosters are heavy.
Photo: Wizz AirWizz Air Hungary Pilot Benefits
Wizz Air pilots have access to a handful of benefits that, while perhaps not as generous as those offered by full-service airlines, are still quite decent in the low-cost carrier industry.
- Layover allowances – Whenever pilots are rostered away from base, they’re given a daily allowance to cover costs. The figure depends on where the layover is.
- Staff travel – Pilots and their families can access reduced fares on Wizz Air’s network. Given how extensive the airline’s routes are across Europe, this perk is genuinely useful.
- Leave allowance – Wizz pilots typically get between 12 and 14 days off each month, alongside annual leave. It helps them balance time at home with the often demanding flying schedule.
- Insurance – Life and health insurance are included in the employment package, with optional private top-ups.
- Training and career progression – The airline runs recurrent training out of Budapest and other bases, and there are frequent chances to move from First Officer to Captain thanks to the company’s steady fleet growth.
Photo: Wizz AirWhat aircraft do Wizz Air Hungary pilots fly?
The airline operates a straightforward fleet, built almost entirely around Airbus narrowbodies, which helps to keep training simple and efficient. As of 2025, pilots at Wizz Air Hungary can expect to be flying:
- Airbus A320-200 – 69
- Airbus A321-200 – 41
- Airbus A321neo – 117
On top of that, more than 250 A321neo and A321XLR aircraft are on order, which means the airline is locked into Airbus for the long term. Pilots joining today will most likely spend their entire careers flying these types, though the XLR variant will eventually open up longer routes across the Middle East, Africa, and possibly even Asia.
Photo: Wizz AirHow to become a pilot at Wizz Air Hungary?
Wizz Air keeps its entry requirements broadly in line with European standards. The minimum thresholds are aimed mostly at those applying to become first officers. Captains are usually hired internally after enough years of service, though there are exceptions.
Applicants are expected to:
- Hold an EASA ATPL or a CPL/IR with ATPL theory credits.
- Possess a valid Class 1 medical certificate.
- Show at least ICAO English Level 4 proficiency.
- Have completed MCC training.
- Accumulate the minimum hours set by the airline at the time of recruitment (often between 300 and 500 for direct-entry First Officers).
Cadet schemes are also available through Wizz Air’s training partners, though these are self-sponsored and involve significant upfront investment. The promise is quicker access to a job at the airline once training is complete.
Photo: Wizz AirWizz Air Hungary’s hiring process for pilots
Wizz Air Hungary essentially has a six-step hiring process for pilots as follows.
1. Online application – Candidates upload their CV, pilot license, medical certificate, logbook extracts, and other supporting documents.
2. Online assessments – Shortlisted applicants are invited to take online aptitude tests. These usually involve numerical reasoning, logical thinking, and sometimes technical questions about aviation.
3. Assessment centre – Those who pass the online stage are invited to Budapest for a full assessment day. This includes simulator checks, where candidates are tested on handling skills, cockpit management, and decision-making under pressure. Alongside this, there are technical interviews focused on aircraft systems and operations, as well as HR interviews to gauge motivation, communication, and cultural fit.
4. Medical clearance – All pilots must hold a valid EASA Class 1 medical certificate. For some, this stage is only a formality, while for others it requires updating an older medical certificate.
5. Type rating training – Applicants who are not yet Airbus type-rated are offered the opportunity to complete one, usually through Wizz Air’s training partners. The cost can be partly supported or financed, though it is not always free.
6. Line training – The final step is line training. New hires fly scheduled routes under the supervision of a training captain until they are judged fully competent to operate independently. This marks the official transition into the Wizz Air Hungary pilot community.
Wizz Air Hungary Pilot FAQs
First officers earn between €3,500 and €6,500 per month (US$3,900–7,200), while captains earn between €9,000 and €15,000 per month (US$9,800–16,300). Both receive extras for distance flown and landings.
Most pilots are based in Budapest, although Wizz Air Hungary may position crew to other airports temporarily if operational needs require.
Yes. Wizz Air Hungary continues to recruit in 2025, particularly for first officers and upgrade candidates, with expansion plans requiring a steady flow of new pilots.
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