Budapest Airport breaks new records with almost 20 million passengers, more than 420,000 tons of air cargo

Budapest Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network, celebrated the 75th anniversary of its opening with a year of historic records. The airport set all-time highs in both passenger and cargo volumes in 2025, with the airport community handling soaring traffic seamlessly, even during peak periods. A major airport development program is now underway, designed to prepare the gateway for future growth while preserving an excellent passenger experience.

Budapest Airport broke records

In 2025, the airport handled between 1.5 million and 1.9 million passengers almost every month, closing the year with a total of 19,632,894 travelers, an 11.7% increase compared to 2024, bud.hu wrote. Beyond Hungary’s growing touristic appeal, this rise was fueled by the airport operator’s focused airline development strategy and record-breaking route offering, including:

• the most diverse schedule in the airport’s history.
• 154 destinations served worldwide.
• 45 airlines operating from Budapest.
• more available seats than in previous years.

This varied offering will grow further in 2026, with several new destinations joining the network. As announced last year, the Hungarian capital will once again feature on the maps of the largest North American airlines with two key routes, further stimulating the already strong demand from overseas travelers and providing numerous connections to:

• North America.
• South America.
• The Caribbean.

New Transatlantic flights from Budapest

Through a joint effort by Budapest Airport, the Hungarian government and Visit Hungary, American Airlines will resume its direct Budapest–Philadelphia service, while Air Canada will relaunch its Budapest–Toronto route. The new Hungarian–Chinese bilateral aviation agreement is also set to increase flight frequencies between China and Hungary, and Condor will enter the Hungarian market as a completely new carrier with the launch of its Frankfurt service.

• Another direct flight may start to operate this summer based on a yesterday announcement to New York.

The robust passenger figures and Hungary’s excellent tourism performance last year clearly confirmed the strong need to expand the airport. In preparation for the construction of a new terminal, the operator launched projects in 2025 to:

• expand security screening capacity.
• increase passenger check-in capacity.
• renew and modernize the parking system.
• extend pier B, with works starting shortly.

The construction of the new terminal will fundamentally shape the future of Hungarian aviation and will rank among the most significant aviation investments in Central Europe over the next decade, securing Budapest Airport’s competitiveness in the long term.

Prestigious awards

Budapest Airport will implement these large-scale developments while keeping operations running smoothly and maintaining a premium passenger experience, worthy of Europe’s top airports. The consistently high service quality was highlighted last year by two major awards based entirely on passenger feedback:

• Skytrax named Budapest Airport the best airport in the region for the twelfth time.
• Airports Council International once again selected it as the best airport in Europe in the 15–25 million passenger category.

Alongside passenger growth, the cargo business also delivered remarkable results in 2025; volumes climbed from 300,000 to more than 400,000 tons, with the airport closing the year at 426,519 tons, a 42.3% increase versus the previous year. This outstanding growth has established Budapest Airport as the leading cargo hub in the region, ahead of its main competitors, and the sector’s performance was recognized for the second time in 2025 at the Payload Asia Awards, where Budapest Airport was named Cargo Airport of the Year in Europe.

• New Ryanair, Air Algérie and Wizz Air flights from Budapest Airport: your next adventure awaits!

Celebrating the anniversary

Budapest Airport marked its anniversary year with a special event series celebrating Ferenc Liszt, the airport’s namesake, and his legacy. Among other highlights, the operator commemorated the 75th anniversary with:

• Live performances in the terminal on World Piano Day.
• A large-scale Liszt concert at the Liszt Academy.
• A pantomime performance in cooperation with the Hungarian State Opera House.
• A Liszt-themed installation in Terminal 2B at the end of the year.
• The first Aviation Ball for the Hungarian aviation community.
• The launch of Budapest Airport’s new website, elevating its online presence to a new level.