Wizz Air Withdraws London Gatwick to Jeddah and Medina Flights

Ultra-low-cost carrier quietly ends long-haul Saudi Arabia routes months after signalling expansion plans.

Wizz Air has removed both of its longest scheduled routes from sale, withdrawing London Gatwick to Jeddah and London Gatwick to Medina from its booking system. Neither flight currently appears on the airline's website, bringing a quiet end to services that had made Wizz Air one of the few ultra-low-cost carriers operating long-haul flights between the UK and Saudi Arabia.​​​​​​​

The withdrawal of the two routes has not been accompanied by an official statement, with the flights simply ceasing to appear as bookable options. For a carrier that had promoted its Gatwick-Jeddah and Gatwick-Medina services as a flagship test of ultra-low-cost long-haul travel, the low-key nature of the change has drawn attention from industry watchers. The routes had been seen as an important trial of whether the budget model, typically associated with short-haul flying across Europe, could work on longer sectors connecting the UK with the Middle East.

The move is particularly notable as it comes only months after Wizz Air had signalled ambitions to expand its presence in Saudi Arabia further. Airlines generally adjust their networks in response to a combination of factors, including passenger demand, operating costs, aircraft deployment, and wider commercial strategy, though Wizz Air has not set out its specific reasoning for withdrawing these services. The pace of the reversal, moving from stated growth plans to the outright removal of existing flights, marks a significant shift in direction for the airline's Saudi Arabian operations.​​​​​​​

Passengers who had been considering Wizz Air for travel between London Gatwick and either Jeddah or Medina will need to look at alternative airlines, as the routes are no longer available to book. This includes travellers making the journey for religious purposes, such as Umrah or Hajj, a segment that ultra-low-cost carriers had increasingly sought to attract with more affordable long-haul fares. Whether Wizz Air will relaunch flights to Saudi Arabia in the future, or whether this represents a longer-term withdrawal from the market, remains to be seen.

Wizz Air's expansion into long-haul flying from its Gatwick base had been closely watched as a test case for the wider low-cost sector, built on the premise that its cost model could succeed beyond short-haul European routes. The removal of its two longest services raises questions about the strategy's viability in its current form, even as the airline continues to operate an extensive short-haul network across Europe and neighbouring regions.

Travellers planning journeys to Saudi Arabia or exploring long-haul flight options from the UK are encouraged to speak to Crystal Travel's travel agents, who can help find suitable alternatives and provide up-to-date guidance as airline schedules continue to change.