Budapest airport aims to re-establish a route to the USA for the summer 2018 schedule.
The airport operator's head of airline development Balazs Bogats told FlightGlobal at the Routes Europe conference in Belfast that the airport is in talks with seven airlines about opening direct services between the Hungarian capital and either New York or Chicago. He indicates the group includes European and US airlines, and third country-based carriers that would operate the services under fifth-freedom rules.
American Airlines and Delta Air Lines previously served Budapest from New York. But the two airlines terminated their flights – which led to double-daily services on the route – in 2011. Bogarts asserts the market for direct US flights from Budapest has grown in the meantime. But he acknowledges the route would sustain just one rather two operators.
Budapest airport foresees scope for further intercontinental routes to destinations such as Bangkok, Beijing and Shanghai, says Bogats. But he concedes that traffic growth will primarily come from airlines operating short- and medium-haul flights.
Passenger numbers at Budapest increased around 10% in 2016, and grew 17% during the first quarter in 2017. Locally-headquartered budget carrier Wizz Air and Ryanair have been central to airport's business growth, though TAP Portugal, Ukraine International Airlines and UK regional operator Flybe are opening new routes to Budapest too in 2017. Air Canada Rouge launched services from Toronto in 2016, and intends to double frequency to six weekly flights this year, says Bogats.
In order to accommodate increased traffic, Budapest airport plans to open in summer 2018 a new terminal pier that can handle passengers for long- and short-haul aircraft on 27 positions, comprising both terminal and remote parking positions. The airport has also decided to open in 2020 a new terminal, which is primarily designed to increase space for additional passenger security check lanes. Under a previous plan, that terminal was scheduled to open in 2022.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
