BREAKING: Direct flights between Hungary and the USA to resume
Direct air service will once again link Hungary and the United States.
According to a Facebook post by Márton Nagy, Hungary’s Minister for National Economy, negotiations to restore direct flights had been ongoing for months. As reported by turizmus.com, he had already hinted at these discussions in a speech earlier this February.
“Today, I can finally announce the result: beginning in May 2026, American Airlines will launch a daily direct flight between Budapest and Philadelphia!”
Hungary and the U.S. to reconnect via direct air service
According to the minister, this development is about more than just a new flight route. It opens up new opportunities for Hungary, making travel to the U.S. easier and potentially giving a strong boost to tourism between the two countries. It could also help deepen economic ties. As he mentioned in a prior speech, even visa processes between the two nations might become simpler.
Minister Nagy also stressed that while this is a significant milestone in Hungarian-American relations, it is by no means the end of the road for their cooperation.
“We’ve always said that President Donald Trump’s leadership is opening new doors between our countries.”
According to Budflyer, American Airlines announced on Thursday that its seasonal flights from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague—which were suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic—will resume next summer. The first flight is scheduled to depart Philadelphia on May 21, 2026, operated by a B787-8 Dreamliner, and will run daily.
The return of American Airlines also means that after a long hiatus, Budapest Airport will once again have a direct transatlantic route. Air Canada, Air Transat, Delta, and United Airlines are expected to unveil their 2026 flight schedules in the coming weeks, raising the possibility of even more direct departures from the Hungarian capital.
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