Budapest Airport cuts 2023 passenger forecast by 2 m

Liszt Ferenc International operator Budapest Airport on Thursday said it cut its forecast for passenger numbers next year by 2 million because of a windfall profit tax on airlines, high inflation and an economic slowdown.

Budapest Airport had earlier forecast passenger numbers would return to 2019 levels — close to 16.2 million — in 2023.

Budapest Airport blamed the windfall profit tax on airlines for cancelled capacity for autumn and the winter season. That downturn affects the entire tourism industry and results in potential revenue loss of over 100 billion forints, it said.

Budapest Airport said passenger numbers reached 10,230,400 in January-October.