European airline Wizz Air (WIZZ) has declared its intention to inaugurate a second training facility in 2024, situated in Rome, Italy. Spanning over 2,500 m² and conveniently positioned within walking distance from T1 at Rome Fiumicino Airport, this new facility will host three full-flight simulators, catering to the recurrent training needs of over 4800 Wizz Air pilots annually. The overall investment in this venture surpasses €38 million (£32 million). .
The training centre will comprise briefing rooms and spaces for theoretical instruction covering 1,290 m² across two floors. Additionally, a simulator hall, encompassing nearly 600 m², will house three state-of-the-art full-flight Airbus A320-family simulators. Each simulator can accommodate up to 135 pilots monthly, ensuring recurrent training for over 4800 pilots each year. Reconstruction is already underway, with the facility scheduled to open for theoretical training in May 2024 and the simulators anticipated to be operational by year-end.
This marks Wizz Air’s second training centre; the initial one was unveiled five years ago in Budapest. The Budapest facility is equipped with three CAE 7000X-series full-flight Airbus A320-family simulators, a fixed simulator and a cabin emergency procedure training tool. It facilitates initial training for up to 300 cadet pilots concurrently and trains 1,500 flight attendants annually. Over the past five years, participants in both cadet and recurrent training have amassed over 83,000 flight hours, equivalent to approximately nine-and-a-half years of flying on three simulators.
Robert Carey, President of Wizz Air, expressed, “By investing in our most valuable asset – our employees – we proudly announce the launch of our new training centre in Rome. This underscores the airlines’ ongoing commitment to the highest safety standards and continuous training with cutting-edge equipment. Simultaneously, through this investment, we aim to create local job opportunities, further strengthening our existing team of 1,000 WIZZ employees in Italy.”
