On August 1, 2020, the low-cost airline Wizzair Hungary became the first airline in Europe to receive an Air Operator Certificate from the European Aviation Safety Agency. In 2018, the option was introduced for airlines operating in several EU countries to apply for an EASA-AOC.

The legal basis is regulated in Regulation 2018/1139. The advantage for the airlines is that in future EASA will be responsible for safety oversight and certification across Europe. A few weeks ago it became known that Lufthansa is also looking into placing itself under the supervision of EASA in the future.

“We are very happy to have such a young and dynamic airline as the first aircraft operator under the supervision of EASA. The EU operating certificate is well suited for airlines such as Wizz Air, which have several operating bases in different EASA member states. As the centralized competent authority for the operation of Wizz Air, EASA will guarantee an internationally recognized high standard of supervision over the airline ”, said EASA boss Patrick Ky.

Wizzair declares that it will continue to fly under the Hungarian flag and that the Hungarian Civil Aviation Authority will continue to exercise control over the operating license (OL) and route licenses. EASA oversight enables the airline to improve collaboration with national civil aviation authorities in its current and future markets.

“I am pleased to announce that Hungary will be the first Member State to renew European airline regulations, while Wizz Air Hungary will be the first airline whose AOC is monitored by EASA as the European Competent Authority. This groundbreaking regulatory model between the Hungarian and European authorities underpins Wizz Air's growth ambitions and offers many new opportunities to innovate the industry as it has done in the past 16 years ”, József Váradi, CEO of the Wizzair Group.