Budapest Airport is seeing a sharp rise in passenger and cargo numbers.
The international "Franz Liszt" Airport in Hungary's capital, set new records in 2024 with 17.6 million passengers and nearly 300,000 tons of air cargo.
This is the first time passenger traffic at the airport has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, positioning the airport as a vital regional hub anticipating continuous growth in the coming years.
Return to Hungarian Ownership
The year 2024 marked a significant milestone in the airport's history, returning to majority Hungarian ownership after almost 20 years. The state purchased 80% of the airport's shares, while VINCI Airports, the leading private airport operator globally, holds the remaining 20%. During the year, the airport served 17,574,413 passengers, a 19.5% increase compared to 2023, breaking the 2019 record with an 8.7% growth.
In 2024, 141 destinations were available from the airport through 43 airlines, with the most popular cities being London, Istanbul, Milan, and Paris.
Passenger traffic to China nearly tripled, and there was record growth to destinations in Italy, Spain, and Germany.
New destinations such as Faro, Marrakesh, and Bilbao were added, and direct flights to Chinese cities increased to 17 per week.
Budapest, Hungary. Photo: shutterstockPreparations for future growth began with the design of the new Terminal 3, which will include expanding runways and upgrading infrastructure. In 2024, new parking systems were installed, charging stations for electric vehicles were established, and a new hotel near Terminal 2 was completed.
Additionally, the airport joined the Sunflower program to support passengers with disabilities and received the Access4you certificate for Terminal 2.
The airport won the Skytrax award for "Best Airport in Eastern Europe" for the 11th time, thanks to its high level of service and quality management. It was also named "Cargo Airport of the Year in Europe" at the Payload Asia Awards ceremony in Singapore in November, due to its achievements in air cargo.
With a forecast of 20 million passengers by 2030, Budapest Airport continues to invest in infrastructure and partnerships with airlines, while maintaining quality, sustainability, and growth. The achievements of 2024 indicate a promising future, combining an enhanced passenger experience with a significant contribution to the local and regional economy.
Budapest: Photo: PassportNews