Budapest Airport has suffered a sharp fall in direct cargo capacity from China and Hong Kong. According to analysis by Rotate, capacity between 1 and 21 August dropped by 58 per cent compared with June levels, before the European Union’s new tariff regime came into force.
The collapse at Budapest Airport stands out even by European standards. Frankfurt recorded a 16 per cent decline, Amsterdam 28 per cent and Liège 35 per cent. By contrast, Cologne/Bonn increased capacity by 25 per cent and London Stansted by 37 per cent.
The figures underscore the risks when a cargo hub’s growth becomes overly reliant on a single market. Budapest Airport has built up substantial Chinese air freight traffic in recent years, leaving it particularly exposed to shifts in that trade, Budflyer wrote.
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The coming months could prove decisive. Should the downturn prove persistent, Budapest’s cargo operations may face serious challenges. Moreover, following the introduction of a €3 tariff in July, an additional EU handling fee could be imposed on affected shipments from November. The European Commission will determine the exact amount.
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