(Reuters) – DUBAI – Wizz Air, a European budget airline, has halted plans to resume flights from Moscow to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, citing rising opposition over the relaunch decision earlier this month.
Wizz Air made no mention of the social media criticism, which included some calls to boycott the airline, in its statement suspending the flights until further notice on Friday, instead referring to “industry supply chain difficulties.”
The airline replied to criticism on Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) by stating that the flight will be operated by its Abu Dhabi venture, which is a registered carrier in the United Arab Emirates that operates in accordance with the Gulf state’s standards.
Other UAE carriers, it noted, were flying to Russia.
London-listed Wizz Air owns 49% of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, which operates aircraft with the European airline’s name and logo. ADQ, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, holds 51%.
Wizz Air said earlier this month that flights between Abu Dhabi and Moscow would restart in October. Following the invasion of Ukraine, it ceased all combat operations with Russia on February 27.
Wizz Air also has airline operating certificates (AOC) in the United Kingdom and Hungary.
European carriers have suspended flights to Russia, and Russian airlines are barred from flying in European Union airspace as part of Western sanctions for the war, which Moscow refers to as a “special military operation.”
The UAE has not imposed sanctions on Russia and has stated that it wishes to remain impartial.
(The tale has been rewritten to correct the syntax in the fourth paragraph.)