Innovations at Budapest Airport: soundproof cabins, piano, luggage trolleys

The management of Budapest Airport, together with the entire airport ecosystem, has ensured the seamless handling of the summer peak with an optimal headcount and a wide range of quality-enhancing developments, and has continued to please passengers with innovative projects in recent months.

These include four soundproof cabins, each seating two people, which provide a quiet environment for passengers who would prefer to spend their waiting time concentrating on reading, holding meetings or just taking some private time. Avid readers also have dedicated reading corners in the departure gate areas known as Pier 1 and Pier B, with comfortable armchairs and books available to borrow for free whilst at the airport.

Musically inclined travelers can show off their talents on the piano at the entrance to Pier B, or can enjoy the playing of their fellow passengers. The observation and smoking terrace in Terminal 2B, which opened in October, has been equipped with benches featuring induction chargers and USB ports, while vegetation makes the environment even more pleasant.

In addition to terminal information staff, information totems now help passengers find their way around the airport, and tactile paving has been available on the landside as well since the summer for visually impaired passengers, in addition to a dedicated app. The number of baggage trolleys has also been increased, with 300 additional trolleys available for passengers to use, including in the car parks.

To further improve airport services, Budapest Airport has installed an on-site satisfaction measurement system, which allows passengers to evaluate specific processes and developments.

Almost 1.5 million passengers use Liszt Ferenc airport in July

Almost 1.5 million passengers passed through Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc international airport in July, its operator said on Tuesday. In the January-July period, passenger traffic increased by 24 percent year on year, to 8.2 million, 9 percent below the same period in 2019, the year before the pandemic, according to Budapest Airport.

Fully 14.3 million passengers are expected to use the airport in 2023, 2 million more than in 2022, and pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels are likely to have been restored by the end of 2024, the operator said. Cargo volume in July rose by 12 percent year on year, to 16,390 tonnes, while in the January-July period it dropped by 5 percent to 107,000 tonnes, it added.

Double capacity on the BUD Cargo City apron

The extension of the BUD Cargo City apron has been completed, less than ten months after the start of works. The development will make the handling process even more efficient, by enabling the simultaneous loading of up to four wide-body aircraft, with a nose loading option, which is critical for freighter operations. A Qatar Cargo Boeing B777F aircraft with a special livery was the first to take possession of the new apron, during Budapest Airport’s inauguration ceremony.

Although the volume of air cargo in the first seven months of the year is 4.7% lower than the same time last year, the 16 390 tons handled in July is around 12% higher than in July 2022. The total volume of 107,000 tons of air cargo handled this year forecasts that Budapest Airport can look forward to another record year, while the development of the BUD Cargo City will enable the company and the cargo ecosystem to handle up to 300,000 tons of volume per year. What is more, last year’s record cargo volume was achieved with fewer aircraft movements, with the number of cargo flights down by 11.5 percent compared to 2021.

Cargo developments will continue after the opening of the apron; the available warehouse space in the BUD Cargo City will be expanded by a further 6500 m², along with offices and other supporting infrastructure, to contribute to the regional importance of Budapest Airport.

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