budget

WIZZ Air is pulling back at Britain’s second-busiest airport as it races to stem rising costs in a Europe-wide shake-up.

The Budapest-based budget carrier will slash flights from Gatwick after deciding it is losing money there, boss József Váradi said.

High operating fees and badly timed departure slots have made Gatwick a drag on performance.

Mr Váradi said: “Gatwick is expensive and we have been operating an inferior set of slots there.

“We think that we can enhance financial performance by operating that capacity from Luton.”

As part of the overhaul, Wizz will start by moving one aircraft from Gatwick to Luton, giving Luton 13 jets and cutting Gatwick’s fleet to seven.

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He added: “Circumstances change and you have to take action.

“Whichever bases give you the most profitability, you should be biased toward them.

“That includes moving aircraft over from Gatwick to Luton.”

Gatwick has been near capacity for years, keeping prices high and limiting space for rivals.

A £2.2billion plan to convert an emergency strip into a second runway is expected to double passenger numbers, but not until the 2030s.

Wizz insists it isn’t quitting Gatwick entirely.

Mr Váradi said the base will be “optimised”, adding: “You have to churn your network for profit. We are simply more efficient financially in Luton.”

He dismissed any link to Jet2’s plan to position seven aircraft at Gatwick from next year.

“Gatwick is stuck. It is so set with regard to slots that no newcomer can make any significant difference. Jet2 will be very sub-scale versus the established players,” he said.

The retreat comes as Wizz battles a series of financial shocks.

The airline has been hit hard by the Ukraine war, which has disrupted some of its biggest routes, and a global recall of faulty Pratt & Whitney engines that has grounded up to 45 planes at a time.

Mr Váradi has responded with aggressive cost-cutting.

The carrier shut its Abu Dhabi offshoot in July and is axing its Vienna base because of “airport costs and taxes”.

The shake-up in Austria has already triggered fresh disruption for UK passengers.

Earlier this month Wizz said it would cease operations to Vienna next year after a “strategic review”.

The decision will end two daily Gatwick–Vienna flights, which drop to one over winter, with all services stopping by March 2026.

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“We are ceasing operations in Vienna. After a strategic review, we are gradually closing our base in Vienna,” the airline said on X.

Routes to Bilbao and London Gatwick will be pulled on 26 October 2025, with all remaining Vienna flights stopping on 15 March 2026.

Confusing messages about Britain’s budget are damaging the government’s credibility, according to investors, businesses, and think tanks. Bond prices fell after finance minister Rachel Reeves changed her stance regarding income tax. After suggesting that she might raise income tax to stick to her fiscal plans, a Financial Times report confirmed that she had decided against it, raising concerns about the government’s commitment to its fiscal promises.

Reeves’ initial comments during a pre-budget speech hinted at a possible income tax increase, which would contradict the Labour Party’s pledges for the upcoming 2024 election. Andrew Goodwin, chief UK economist at Oxford Economics, described the situation as a communication failure, especially after the government had already retracted welfare reforms earlier in the year, making many question their ability to make tough financial decisions.

A government official mentioned that a better forecast from the budget watchdog might allow the abandonment of the income tax plan, further undermining the credibility of the government’s financial assumptions. Ben Zaranko from the Institute for Fiscal Studies criticized the inconsistent messaging, stating that it reflects poorly on the policy-making process, which appears rushed and unstable.

Business leaders are worried about these mixed signals, fearing the budget may only include minor tax adjustments that introduce uncertainty for companies. Mohammad Jamei from the Confederation of British Industry emphasized that such unpredictability would lead businesses to delay investment decisions. A senior executive expressed frustration over the political implications of the situation.

Financial markets are also concerned about a return to inconsistent tax increases, with experts believing this could suggest a lack of support for the chancellor from her party. Jane Foley from Rabobank noted that Reeves’ changing statements have harmed her credibility, affecting the UK asset market negatively. Long-dated government bond yields rose significantly in response to these developments.

Investors are reminded of the economic turmoil caused by former Prime Minister Liz Truss’s policies, which still impact their confidence in the UK’s financial stability. Stephen Millard from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research suggested that Reeves needs to create a financial buffer to ensure stability and reduce speculation about the government’s fiscal policies, leading to clearer communication and more dependable budget planning.

With information from Reuters

THE UK’S best budget campsite has been named and it has tonnes of amazing features as well as a great price.

Named in the Campsites.co.uk Camping and Glamping Awards, Caldbeck Camping in Cumbria can be found in the Northern Lake District, not too far from the northerly fells of High Pike and Carrock Fell.

In total, the campsite features 13 grass pitches, three of which have electric hook-ups.

But if putting up a tent isn’t your thing, then you can always opt for the cosy bell tent that is on site as well.

Inside the adult-only bell tent, visitors will find a cosy double bed, electrical supply, tea and coffee making facilities and a table and chairs.

Outside the tent there is also a private garden with a fire pit, seating and a sheltered bench area.

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Those staying in the bell tent also have access to a private toilet.

The campsite, which also featured on Campsites.co.uk 2025 Outstanding Sites list, is directly on the Cumbrian Way footpath, making it the ideal spot for keen hikers.

Barbecues are allowed at the site, as long as they are raised from the ground – an ideal summer evening activity.

Alternatively, there are fire pits which are available to hire.

And your four-legged friend is welcome too.

One recent visitor said: “Beautiful lake running through camp, space for wild swimming at bottom.

“Fire pits on each pitch, pitches are of a very good size!

“The site was very peaceful with little to no noise in the evenings.

“Host was lovely and friendly. Would definitely return.”

If you want a tipple before settling down for the night, The Oddfellow Arms pub is just a five-minute walk away.

And there are plenty of things to do nearby including Aira Force Waterfall which is just 30 minutes away.

The staggering 20 metre waterfall is located in an 18th century pleasure ground and there are a number of woodland trails to explore.

You might even catch a glimpse of rare red squirrel.

And Dalemain Mansion and Historic Gardens is 30 minutes away too.

Here, you can explore a pretty Grade I listed country house that features a mix of medieval, Tudor and Georgian architecture.

The gardens are also award-winning.

Spread across five acres, visitors can explore a number of plants and flowers and the gardens are known for whimsical features, so keep an eye out for a dragon and a sleeping earth giant.

Pitches at the campsite for adults cost from £9 per night and kids, £5 per night.

If you wish to have a pitch with an electrical hookup, it is an additional £6 per night.

For the bell tent, it costs from £65 per night for stays between Sunday and Thursday or £75 per night for stays between Friday and Saturday.

There is also a two night minimum stay in the bell tent.

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For more camping inspiration, there are a number of stunning campsites in Britain from £10 a night – including a posh estate with a brewery next to woodland theme park.

Plus, Kent’s best campsite has its own private beach and 3,000 acres that feels like the savannah.

United States President Donald Trump is committed to providing Americans with $2,000 cheques using money that has come into government coffers from Trump’s tariffs.

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump’s staff is exploring how to go about making the plan a reality.

The president proposed the idea on his Truth Social media platform on Sunday, five days after his Republican Party lost elections in Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere largely because of voter discontent with his economic stewardship — specifically, the high cost of living.

A new AP-NORC poll finds that 67 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 33 percent approve.

The tariffs are bringing in so much money, the president posted, that “a dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.’’

“Trump has taken to his favorite policymaking forum, Truth Social, to make yet another guarantee that Americans are going to receive dividend [cheques] from the revenues collected by tariffs,” Alex Jacquez, who served on the National Economic Council under former US President Joe Biden, said in a statement provided to Al Jazeera.

“It’s interesting that Trump’s arguments—which he has been pushing forward for several months now on Truth Social—do not match the arguments that his lawyers are making in court. It seems he is trying to pressure the Justices by implying that this will be some massive economic disaster if they rule against the tariffs.”

Budget experts have scoffed at Trump’s tariff dividend plan, which conjured memories of the Trump administration’s short-lived plan for Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) dividend cheques financed by billionaire Elon Musk’s federal budget cuts.

“The numbers just don’t check out,″ Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, told the Associated Press.

Details are scarce, including what the income limits would be and whether payments would go to children.

Even Trump’s US Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, sounded a bit blindsided by the audacious dividend plan.

Appearing on Sunday on the ABC News programme This Week, Bessent said he hadn’t discussed the dividend with the president and suggested that it might not mean that Americans would get a cheque from the government. Instead, Bessent said, the rebate might take the form of tax cuts.

The tariffs are certainly raising money — $195bn in the budget year that ended September 30, up 153 percent from $77bn in fiscal 2024. But they still account for less than four percent of federal revenue, and have done little to dent the federal budget deficit, a staggering $1.8 trillion in fiscal 2025.

Budget wonks say Trump’s dividend math doesn’t work.

John Ricco, an analyst with the Budget Lab at Yale University, reckons that Trump’s tariffs will bring in $200bn to $300bn a year in revenue. But a $2,000 dividend — if it went to all Americans, including children — would cost $600bn. “It’s clear that the revenue coming in would not be adequate,” Ricco said.

The analyst also noted that Trump couldn’t just pay the dividends on his own. That would require legislation from Congress.

Legal challenges

Moreover, the centrepiece of Trump’s protectionist trade policies — double-digit taxes on imports from almost every country in the world — may not survive a legal challenge that has reached the US Supreme Court.

In a hearing last week, the court’s justices sounded sceptical about the Trump administration’s assertion of sweeping power to declare national emergencies to justify the tariffs. Trump has bypassed Congress, which has authority under the US Constitution to levy taxes, including tariffs.

If the court strikes down the tariffs, the Trump administration may be refunding money to the importers who paid them, not sending dividend cheques to American families. Trump could find other ways to impose tariffs, even if he loses at the Supreme Court, but it could be cumbersome and time-consuming.

Mainstream economists and budget analysts note that tariffs are paid by US importers who then generally try to pass along the cost to their customers through higher prices.

The dividend plan “misses the mark,” the Tax Foundation’s York said. “If the goal is relief for Americans, just get rid of the tariffs.”

HOLIDAYMAKERS jetting off with one of the UK’s most popular budget airlines are being stung by a sneaky charge hidden in the small print – and families could be left £140 out of pocket.

Even as a seasoned budget traveller, I thought I knew every trick.

But when recently travelling with Wizz Air, I was still caught me out with a rule in the fine print. 

Like many travellers, I tried to check in on the morning of my flight – only to be met with an error message.

Online check in had closed, and I was told I had to pay €40 (£35) at Milan Malpensa just to get my boarding pass.

Wizz Air’s online check-in opens 24 hours before your flight – and unlike most airlines, closes three hours before departure.

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Miss the window, and you’ll be slapped with a hefty fee to pay.

So if you check in on the day of your flight – or fly early in the morning – you could easily miss the cut off. 

The strict fee allows even less time than Ryanair or easyJet, which open online check in up until around two hours before take off.

According to Wizz Air’s policy: “Online check-in is available from 30 days up to three hours before the scheduled departure time if you have purchased a seat during your booking.

“In case you have not purchased any seats with your booking, check-in will become available only 24 hours before departure.”

That means a family of four who forgets to check in online within the specific time frame could be looking at an eye-watering €160 (£140) bill before they’ve even reached security…

And though the airport check in fee is listed at just €13 (£11) on the official Wizz Air site, this price only applies to those who choose to add this charge on in advance, rather than check in online.

Plenty of travellers have been caught out by this little known rule too.

On social media, you’ll find threads full of passengers complaining about “unexpected” airport check-in charges.

Luke, 22, from London, was caught with the charge flying back to the UK.

He told The Sun: “You’d think checking in three hours before a flight would be fine, but with Wizz Air, it’s already too late.

“We had to pay €80 (£70) for two of us to check in at the airport – I thought I could just do it on my phone like every other airline.” 

Wizz Air isn’t breaking any rules in the UK; the information is there on its website.

But, it’s easily missed unless you’re combing through the small print before your holiday. 

Terms and conditions on Wizz Air’s website state: “Online check-in is available from 24 hours up to three hours before scheduled departure.

“Passengers who fail to check in online must complete the process at the airport and will be charged a fee as outlined in our terms.”

How to avoid the €40 fee

Here’s what travellers should do to stay one step ahead:

• Check in as soon as online check-in opens. For Wizz Air, that’s exactly 24 hours before your flight. Set a reminder on your phone so you don’t forget. 
• Download your boarding pass immediately. Don’t rely on the app or airport WiFi, which can be unreliable. Print it at home, or save it to your smartphone’s wallet.
• Avoid leaving it until the morning of your flight – always check in the day before, then you know that you’re sorted.

A Wizz Air spokesperson said: “Like many other airlines, Wizz Air encourages all passengers to check-in online as early as possible before their scheduled departure time. We aim to make check-in simple for passengers and provide instructions during the booking process, on the Wizz Air website and via email reminders on how to check-in online to avoid fees.

“Customers who have not purchased seats with their booking, can check-in online 24 hours before departure via the Wizz Air app or website. At this point, they also have the opportunity to purchase a seat.   

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“Passengers who fail to check-in online, or who wish to check-in within three hours of their flight, must do so at the airport. This service can be pre-booked online for £12.00 or €13 per flight. Airport check-in without pre-booking costs £36.50 or €40.00. Full details on our check-in policy can be found on the Wizz Air website.

“Wizz Air does not discriminate against any passenger. While we are a digital-first airline, we offer special assistance to any passenger who might need it, abiding by all relevant UK CAA regulations, which specifies passengers who need special assistance should contact the airline at least 48-hours before departure. Wizz Air is fully committed to accommodating the special needs of any passenger who contacts them in the stipulated timeframe, which can also be requested by telephone.”

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