Wizz Air

There was choas on board a Wizz Air flight from Luton to Tel Aviv when a passenger started messaging someone else on board having changed their WiFi name to ‘terrorist’

Fighter jets were forced to to intercept a flight from the UK after being alerted that a passenger on board changed their WiFi name.

The planes arrived after a person reported ‘threatening messages’ were being sent to people on the Wizz Air flight from Luton, which was due to land at Ben-Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. The ‘security incident’ unfolded when crew notified security officials in Israel of a potential threat.

Authorities believe a traveller changed their WiFi account name to ‘terrorist’ and started directly messaging fellow passengers. They raised the alarm and the fighter jets were given the order to circle the skies before the plane eventually landed safely in Israel.

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The Airports Authority said: “Due to suspicion of suspicious behaviour on the plane, security forces acted according to the procedures for such a case. The incident ended. The plane landed and it was found that there was no actual incident.”

N12 News reports that this isn’t the first time those in charge at the airport have been forced to act. Three years ago, during a flight of the Turkish airline Anadolu Jet, passengers were airdropped pictures and videos of planes crashing on their mobile phones.

There is no blame on the airline, but analysis of the latest data from the Authority shows that Wizz Air had the highest number of complaints per million passengers flown, beating Ryanair to the bottom spot. In fact, the Hungarian airline romped home with the prize.

It received 10,548 customer complaints from mid-2024 to March 2025, or 918 complaints per one million passengers. That means for every customer who flew, just under 1,000 registered a complaint during that period.

In Wizz Air’s favour is the relatively low ‘complaint upheld’ rate during that time, at 47%. It paid out £1,482,183 as a consequence, or £651 per customer on average.

The airline said: “At Wizz Air, every minute matters and customers are at the heart of everything we do. Since 2024, we have made significant investments across every part of our operations, including our Customer First Compass initiative – a £12 billion framework launched in 2025 to ensure we deliver the best possible service for our customers.

“This investment is already delivering results. In 2025, our UK flight completion rate was 99.8% – one of the best in the entire industry, while our on-time performance also improved by 14.23% compared to 2024. As a result, in 2025 customer satisfaction ratio already increased by 7% point year-on-year.

“We recognise that disruption does occasionally occur, on many occasions due to factors outside of our control. We are focused on responding quickly and effectively when it does. Our automated Chatbot, Amelia AI, is available 24/7 to address most customers’ enquiries and needs.”

Meanwhile, British Airways had a far lower complaints rate (192/one million customers), but 83% were upheld. BA paid out £6,238,378 in total, or £837 per customer.

Ryanair’s complaints-per-million-customers rate was 188, with a low complaints upheld rate of 28% and an average award of £694.

Wizz Air has added a new route to the Greek island of Santorini from London Gatwick starting July 2026, with flights from £45.99 offering crystal-clear waters and whitewashed villages

Wizz Air has unveiled new routes to a stunning island boasting scorching sunshine and crystal-clear azure waters, with fares kicking off at just £45.99.

As dreary British weather continues, many of us are fantasising about a sun-drenched holiday, making it the perfect moment to discover that Wizz Air has expanded its routes to the iconic Greek island of Santorini. The breathtaking destination has remained a firm favourite amongst holidaymakers craving a peaceful retreat amongst its whitewashed and blue-domed clifftop villages.

The fresh Wizz Air route connecting London Gatwick to Santorini will officially launch on 1 July 2026, as the airline bolsters its Greek connections ahead of the busy summer travel season. The new service, offering Brits greater flexibility for their summer holiday plans, will run twice weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Direct flights begin at only £45.99 one-way, making it simpler than ever to secure that tranquil getaway during the summer break without the eye-watering cost. Santorini delivers plenty for travellers, from its spectacular clifftop vistas and black volcanic sand beaches to some of the most breathtaking golden sunsets imaginable.

Tourists can meander through cobbled pathways flanked by whitewashed structures adorned with pink bougainvillaea blooms for a picture-perfect Mamma Mia! moment. Due to its dramatic position perched atop volcanic cliffs, there’s an array of hiking trails to appreciate the island’s distinctive charm, including the renowned Fira-Oia trail.

Beyond that, visitors can discover the ancient ruins at Akrotiri, embark on a boat excursion across the turquoise waters, enjoy a dip in Santorini’s hot springs, and taste local wines during a vineyard tour. Additionally, there’s a wide selection of delightful restaurants, lively bars and authentic cafes where guests can savour Greek cuisine, from Gyros to Horiatiki.

The introduction of the new Wizz Air route to Santorini arrives as the carrier continues to broaden its UK- Greece connections. Wizz Air has also announced extra flights to Chania, Corfu, Mykonos, Rhodes and Zakynthos launching this summer.

Yvonne Moynihan, Managing Director at Wizz Air UK, said: “The addition of Santorini to our London Gatwick network comes at the perfect time ahead of the peak summer season. Our upcoming Greek routes are already set to become firm favourites with our customers, and Santorini is a bucket list destination that people dream of visiting.

“As London’s low-cost airline, we’re delighted to give travellers the opportunity to experience this iconic island destination at an affordable price. We listened carefully to what customers wanted, and through our Customer First Compass framework, we are making sure their needs remain front and centre in every decision we take.”

The upcoming flights from London Gatwick to Santorini, with a journey time of less than four hours, will soon be available for booking on the Wizz Air website or through their app. Prices for a one-way direct ticket will kick off at £45.99, with the inaugural flight scheduled for 1 July 2026.

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In November 2025, Ryanair also made a major change to its ticketing system by discontinuing the use of physical tickets

It’s no secret that Ryanair is among the UK’s most popular airlines. Between 2024 and 2025, it celebrated reaching 200 million passengers, a first for any European airline in a one-year period.

Yet future passengers should know that a single oversight could incur a hefty charge. Dealing with this at the airport generally costs £55 in the UK, £30 (€30) for departures from Spain, and even £40 (€40) for departures from Austria. The fee is charged per passenger, per ‘sector’, which includes connections.

You may be surprised to learn that the mistake is simply forgetting or choosing not to check in with Ryanair before arriving at the airport. Customers are urged to check in for flights ahead of their journeys and use a Digital Boarding Pass (DBP).

Official online advice from Ryanair explains: “All Ryanair passengers will still receive email reminders to check-in online 48 and 24hrs predeparture. If any passenger arrives at airport but hasn’t checked in online (having ignored these reminders), they will still be required to pay the airport check-in fee.”

In November 2025, Ryanair made a major change to its ticketing system by discontinuing the use of physical tickets at most airports and instead operating as ‘100%’ DBPs. This scheme, originally planned for May 2025, aims to lower costs, save approximately 300 tonnes of paper annually, and enable travellers to receive direct flight updates.

To get one, travellers should check in online via the website or the Ryanair App, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. After check-in, a DBP will automatically show up in the Ryanair App. This should be presented at airport security and the boarding gate before flights.

Overall, the budget airline insists that this method is ‘quicker, easier’ and results in ‘less stress’ compared to using paper tickets. Plus, travellers should still be able to board the flight even if their phones are lost or run out of battery.

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This is primarily because personnel will have each traveller’s ‘sequence number’ at the departure gate. Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary explained on The Independent’s daily travel podcast last year: “The big concern that people have is: ‘What happens if I lose my battery or what if I lose my phone?’

“…If you lose your phone, no issue. As long as you’ve checked in before you got to the airport, we’ll reissue a paper boarding pass at the airport free of charge.”

Advice on Ryanair’s website mirrors this, adding: “If you have already checked in online and you lose your smartphone or tablet (or it dies), your details are already on our system and you will be assisted at the gate.”

Despite this, it’s important to note that Ryanair isn’t the only airline to issue check-in fees at airports. Wizz Air similarly charges between €40 and €50 for airport check-ins, which also apply per flight, per passenger.

For more information on airline fees, refer to Ryanair’s fee list here or Wizz Air’s fee list here.

How can I check in online with Ryanair?

1. Visit Ryanair.com or access the Ryanair app on your device.
2. Log in to your existing account or create a new one if needed.
3. Click on the ‘Check-in’ option.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions and enter the required details from your travel documents.
5. Once check-in is complete, either print out your boarding pass or save it to your mobile device for easy access.

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