Fierce battle: Chinese airlines and the Hungarian state compete for Budapest Airport

Budapest Airport has a unique growth potential in Europe, which is why the Hungarian state wants to buy it as soon as possible. However, it is not only the government that wants to get it: the cargo divisions of all three major Chinese airlines, Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines, are interested in “taking over” the airport.

Major Chinese airlines are interested in Budapest Airport

Photo: FB

Liszt Ferenc International Airport registered 1,392,489 passengers and 23,546 tonnes of cargo last month.

According to AIRportal.hu, the airport recorded 10,112 take-offs and landings in April, up 15.3% on the fourth month of 2023 and 1% on 2019. They added that 36,153 aircraft movements have been recorded at Budapest Airport this year, up 17.8 percent on the same period last year.

Cargo Director József Kossuth told AIRportal.hu that last year, 81 million parcels arrived by air in Budapest.

Kossuth pointed out that there are currently around 60 cargo flights per week to Budapest, but this includes the movements of integrator companies (DHL, Fed Ex, UPS), scheduled and charter carriers. He said that these are high-capacity and well-loaded. “For example, a Boeing-777 cargo plane can have up to 102 tonnes coming in and out of the airport.”

According to Kossuth, all three major Chinese airlines (Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines) have cargo divisions interested in launching dedicated cargo flights to Budapest, and are working with all major Chinese airports to build direct connections and relationships.

Will the Hungarian government buy the airport?

Photo: FB/Budapest Airport

According to Világgazdaság, the buy-back is factual, but it is uncertain when the agreement will be officially announced. The last time the transaction was discussed was at the Cabinet Briefing on 25 April, when the government said that it was a matter of weeks.

Minister of the PM’s Office Gergely Gulyás was also asked about the costs the government expects to face after the sale. “We are talking about developments worth hundreds of billions of forints. Some of them can be done on a market basis, which is especially true for the railways,” the minister said.

At the same time, as we reported earlier today, major developments are starting at Budapest Airport. Among other things, a parking garage will be built at Terminal 2, and new aircraft stands and boarding gates will be constructed. There will be several improvements at Terminal 2A, while the iconic Terminal 1, a listed building, will also be renewed.

Read also:

• Rail ring road around Budapest, airport high-speed railway to be built with Chinese investment
• Budapest Airport: Major developments underway at main Hungarian airgate