- Mr Plane Guy
- 21 hours ago
- 5 min read
Wizz Air Transatlantic Flights Approved, Fancy Crossing the Pond on an A321?
By Mr Plane Guy, travel blogger, flight expert & professional budget airline experimenter
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep Mr Plane Guy airborne.
Ultra-low-cost airline Wizz Air has received approval to operate transatlantic flights between the United Kingdom and the United States.
Yes, really.
But before anyone starts imagining £99 flights to New York on a pink aircraft, there is an important detail.
These flights will not be regular scheduled routes.
Instead, the airline has been given permission to run charter transatlantic services, mainly transporting European football teams and fans travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
Still, the news raises an interesting aviation question.
Would you fancy crossing the Atlantic on a single-aisle Airbus A321?
Wizz Air Receives Approval for Transatlantic Flights
Wizz Air has confirmed that it had received the necessary permits to operate flights between the UK and the US.
The airline originally submitted its application in January 2026, with regulators approving the plan after reviewing operational and regulatory requirements.
According to Wizz Air UK Managing Director Yvonne Moynihan, the approval represents a significant milestone for the airline.
The charter flights are designed to transport:
• European football teams
• fans travelling to the World Cup
• tour groups
• sports organisations
• corporate and private travel groups
These flights will primarily connect Europe with East Coast destinations in the United States, where many tournament matches will be hosted.
However, Wizz Air has made it clear that these operations are temporary charter services, rather than the start of permanent scheduled transatlantic routes.
Crossing the Atlantic on a Narrow-Body Aircraft
What makes this development particularly interesting is the aircraft involved.
The flights are expected to be operated using the Airbus A321XLR, a new generation aircraft designed to fly longer distances with fewer passengers.
Traditionally, transatlantic routes have been operated using large wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 or Airbus A350.
But aircraft like the A321XLR are designed for long, thinner routes, which opens the door to new possibilities for airlines.
In fact, in November 2025, one of Wizz Air’s A321XLR aircraft flew Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and an official delegation between Budapest and Washington DC.
That flight demonstrated just how capable the aircraft can be on long sectors.
The Airbus A321XLR has a range of roughly 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 km), allowing airlines to operate long-haul routes that were previously only viable with wide-body aircraft. This capability is opening the door for airlines to explore thinner long-distance routes between smaller cities.
Could Wizz Air Launch Cheap Transatlantic Flights One Day?
For now, these charter flights appear to be a one-off operation linked to the World Cup.
However, aviation history has shown that experimental routes sometimes lead to bigger changes in airline networks.
Low-cost airlines have already transformed travel across Europe.
If aircraft like the A321XLR prove economically viable on long routes, it’s not impossible that budget airlines could experiment with scheduled transatlantic flights in the future.
For travellers hoping to cross the Atlantic cheaply, however, the best strategy remains keeping an eye on airline deals rather than waiting for a permanent Wizz Air route.
Plane Tip: How I Actually Find Cheap Flights
Many of the cheapest flights never appear on airline homepages.
They appear quietly as mistake fares or limited-time deals.
One of the tools I personally use to track these deals is Jack's Flight Club.
The service alerts members when unusually cheap flights appear, often saving hundreds compared with typical fares.
You can read my full guide here:
How I Find Cheap Flights Using Jack’s Flight Club
My Experience Flying Wizz Air
If you're curious what flying Wizz Air is actually like, I’ve tested the airline several times myself.
You can read my Plane Honest reviews here:
• my full Wizz Air flight review
• my guide to Wizz Air baggage rules and cabin bag sizes
• my review of the Wizz Air All You Can Fly Pass
Wizz Air can offer extremely cheap fares, but understanding the baggage rules is essential if you want to avoid surprise fees at the airport.
If you're flying with them soon, my Wizz Air luggage guide explains exactly how the cabin bag rules work.
Final Boarding Call
Wizz Air receiving approval to operate transatlantic flights is certainly an interesting development for the airline.
For now, the flights will mainly transport football teams and supporters travelling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup rather than launching permanent routes across the Atlantic.
But aviation evolves quickly.
And with new long-range narrow-body aircraft entering service, the idea of low-cost airlines flying across the Atlantic may not be as unrealistic as it once seemed.
So the real question is:
If the fares were cheap enough…
Would you cross the pond on a Wizz Air A321?
Flying Wizz Air? Don’t Forget the Cabin Bag Rules
Wizz Air’s cheap fares often come with strict baggage rules.
If you're planning a Wizz Air trip soon, understanding the cabin bag allowance is essential to avoid extra fees.If your essentials don’t fit in the free carry-on bag, consider upgrading to a trolley bag:
Size: 55 x 40 x 23 cm (including handles and wheels).
Weight: Max 10 kg.
Cost: Included with WIZZ Priority or available as an add-on.
Placement: Stored in the overhead compartment.
WIZZ Priority not only allows you to bring an additional trolley bag but also grants you priority boarding. This can be a lifesaver if you want to secure overhead bin space.
Related Travel Guides
If you're researching Wizz Air or cheap flights, you may also find these useful:
Hello I’m Paul a travel and flight expert, I spent most of my career working in and around planes with 15 years providing top-notch service with a London-based airline.
I became an expert in travel after soaring across the Atlantic up to 10 times a month!
I’m now, producing travel content, reaching millions of viewers monthly. Reporting on travel news, sharing travel tips, reviews, and deals with a sprinkle of humour and a whole lot of authenticity!
I hope you enjoyed this Wizz Air Transatlantic Flights Approved, Fancy Crossing the Pond on an A321? Do let me know in the comments........
Plane Extras
The PLANE Smart Way to Take Off
Here are my go-to travel extras that help keep this blog (and me) airborne.
🅿️ Airport Parking Compare prices and save up to 75% at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and more with Compare Parking Prices UK →
🍸 Lounge AccessWhy wait at the gate when you could sip a pre-flight prosecco?
Get 30% off a Priority Pass membership → and access 1800+ lounges worldwide.
🌍Travel Insurance Don’t fly without cover. Coverwise (by AXA) offers annual European cover from £10.20, including medical consultations and pre-existing conditions.
🎒 Plane Essentials My must-pack travel gear, from cabin-size backpacks to neck pillows that actually work. Shop my curated Amazon Storefront →
📱Stay Connected Avoid roaming shock. Arlo eSIMs → give you instant data in 180+ destinations, no SIM swap required.
💳 Boost Your Avios Earn faster and fly farther with my Amex Gold referral → or track reward seats via Reward Flight Finder →.
Comments