The low cost airline on Thursday (January 26) forecast a return to profit in the coming financial year.

It sees strong bookings, new capacity and the benefits of hedging fuel costs all helping to drive revenues.

Wizz forecasts growth of up to 30% this summer against a year before, and expects higher average ticket prices.

The carrier was more cautious than some of its rivals, though.

Ryanair and easyJet have reported record bookings for summer holidays.

Wizz CEO Jozsef Varadi said while bookings were strong, he did not want to 'get over-excited'.

The Hungary-based airline still expects to report a loss for its current financial year to the end of March.

It was impacted by the Ukraine war and disruption at airports last summer.

But there were signs of recovery.

Wizz said revenue more than doubled to almost $1 billion over the three months to end-December.

Passenger numbers rose more than half to just under 12.4 million.

Wizz shares dropped 8% early Thursday though, following the relatively cautious outlook.

That wiped out gains made the day before when easyJet's positive update lifted the stock.