London, Feb 16, 2026, 15:08 GMT — Regular session
- Wizz Air shares rose 3.8% to 1,422 pence in London trading.
- UK-listed airline peers were also higher, pointing to a broader lift in travel names.
- Traders are watching crude and UK inflation data due Feb 18.
Wizz Air Holdings Plc shares rose 3.8% to 1,422 pence by mid-afternoon on Monday, having traded as high as 1,425 and as low as 1,381. EasyJet gained 1.5%, British Airways owner IAG added 1.1% and Jet2 was up 2.2%. (London South East)
There was no fresh company statement on Monday, leaving the stock to take its cue from the wider tape and near-term macro signals. The last regulatory announcements on the main UK feed for Wizz Air were dated Feb. 13. (Investegate)
Fuel is one of the biggest swing factors for airlines, and crude was steady as investors waited for the next round of U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva due on Tuesday. Brent was little changed around $68 a barrel. (Reuters)
The wider London market was modestly higher, led by banks, as traders priced in a possible Bank of England rate cut next month. A 25-basis-point move is a quarter of a percentage point. (Reuters)
Wizz Air has been trying to stabilise operations while dealing with RTX-owned Pratt & Whitney engine checks that have forced some aircraft out of service and pushed up costs. Chief executive Jozsef Varadi said last month the airline was “steadily recovering” from the groundings and was targeting an average of 20-25 aircraft on the ground next fiscal year due to the powdered-metal issue. (Reuters)
That backdrop matters because Wizz Air’s earnings are geared to aircraft availability: more jets flying means more seats to sell, but keeping older aircraft in service can lift maintenance bills.
A risk for bulls is straightforward. If engine disruptions drag on, capacity and unit costs can move the wrong way at the same time, and any sharp move up in fuel would squeeze margins further.
Next up, traders in London have UK inflation data on the calendar for 0700 GMT on Feb. 18, a release that can reset rate-cut bets in one print. For airlines, those shifts feed through to consumer spending and financing costs, and can rattle travel stocks even without company news. (Gov)
