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Ryanair unveils five new Budapest routes and expands base – but there’s something that could stall growth
Irish low-cost giant Ryanair has announced a significant expansion of its Budapest operations, adding a new aircraft, launching five fresh routes and boosting annual passenger capacity to record levels – though the airline says further growth depends on lower airport charges.
From the 2026 summer schedule, the carrier will base an additional aircraft in the Hungarian capital, increasing its Budapest fleet to 11, AIRportal.hu reported.
This will allow the airline to operate 67 routes in total, including five new destinations: Dubrovnik, Kraków, Lamezia Terme, Marrakesh and Newcastle.
The expansion means Ryanair expects to offer around 6.5 million seats annually from Budapest, marking a five percent increase year-on-year.
Bigger, more efficient fleet
Of the 11 aircraft stationed at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, six will be next-generation Boeing 737-8200 models. These planes offer more seats and improved fuel efficiency, helping the airline keep fares low while expanding capacity.
According to the airline, the Budapest base now directly employs around 330 pilots and cabin crew, while supporting more than 4,600 jobs indirectly across Hungary.
Tax cuts boosted traffic
Speaking at a Budapest press conference, Jason McGuinness, Ryanair’s commercial chief, highlighted that the Hungarian government’s decision to abolish the aviation “extra profits” (departure) tax had already delivered results.
Since the tax was scrapped in 2025, the airline says its passenger traffic in Budapest has grown by 15 percent. The current base expansion represents a USD 1.1 billion investment, underlining Hungary’s importance within Ryanair’s European network, which spans 36 countries and nearly 100 bases.
Airport fees under fire
Despite the positive outlook, Ryanair warned that rising charges at Budapest Airport are limiting further development, Világgazdaság writes.
The airline claims airport fees have increased by around 10 percent since 2024, making operations more expensive and reducing competitiveness compared to regional rivals in Poland, Slovakia and Croatia.
Ryanair has called on the Hungarian government – the majority owner of the airport operator – to cut these charges. The company argues that lower fees would unlock far more ambitious plans.
Even bigger plans on the table
If costs fall to more competitive levels, Ryanair says it could increase capacity by nearly 50 percent, carrying over 10 million passengers annually from Budapest. This would involve basing five additional aircraft in Hungary and creating hundreds of new aviation jobs by the end of the decade.
Meanwhile, competitor Wizz Air has also stressed the need for infrastructure upgrades, noting that ongoing airport renovations should help meet growing passenger demand in the long term.
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