Budapest’s 100E airport express bus will become much cheaper from next week – but not for everyone

Months ago, the Budapest City Assembly adopted a resolution to end the absurd situation where holders of a Budapest monthly pass must pay the full fare to board the 100E airport express bus— the same price charged to tourists visiting the city comfortably for the first time.

The 100E airport express bus: the most convenient way into town

The 100E airport express service launched on 8 July 2017, following a decision by the Budapest Municipality. It runs between Liszt Ferenc International Airport and Deák Ferenc Square, initially timed to coincide with the swimming world championships held in Budapest. This decision was made under the leadership of István Tarlós and the Fidesz-KDNP majority city government at the time.

Since its introduction, this bus route has been hugely popular, prompting talks of extending and expanding the service. In March this year, there was discussion about extending the line to Nyugati railway station while still passing through Deák Ferenc Square. This move was partly motivated by a new fare structure coming into effect on 1 October, expected to boost passenger numbers by up to 35%.

• New airport shuttle from Buda? Expansion of 100E shuttle service proposed

At present, the 100E bus offers one of the cheapest and most comfortable ways to travel between the city centre and the airport. It connects with the train at Ferihegy station, enabling onward journeys into Budapest or other regional hubs like Szeged, Debrecen, or Miskolc. Thanks to the expressway it uses, the journey is relatively quick—provided the traffic flows smoothly.

• Budapest Airport shuttle 100E will operate more frequently starting from Thursday!

Faster journeys to and from the airport from tomorrow

However, if the expressway becomes congested, travel times can skyrocket. That’s why proposals have surfaced for a new express route, possibly a high-speed rail link, although funding is still lacking.