Budapest Airport braces for Easter weekend rush: Travellers advised to arrive early!

Budapest Airport continues its record-breaking trajectory in 2025, closing the first quarter with more than four million passengers—a 15.5% increase compared to the same period last year. March alone saw nearly 1.47 million travellers pass through Liszt Ferenc International Airport, reflecting a 13.3% year-on-year growth. The most popular destinations among Hungarian travellers last month were London, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Paris, and Milan.

This rapid rise in passenger numbers mirrors the momentum built in 2024, a year that already set records for the airport. With a strong start to the new year, Budapest Airport is bracing for another surge during the upcoming spring holiday weekends, including Easter and Labour Day.

Arrive early at Budapest Airport this weekend!

Katalin Valentínyi, Deputy CEO for Communications and Governmental Relations at Budapest Airport, advises travellers to allow extra time when heading to the airport, especially during peak periods. “Passengers flying outside the Schengen Zone should arrive 2.5 to 3 hours before departure, while for Schengen destinations, two hours is sufficient,” she said in a recent radio interview with InfoRádio.

Online check-in, baggage drop kiosks

To help mitigate congestion, the airport recommends online check-in and using self-service baggage drop kiosks. Passengers can also check estimated waiting times for security screening both online and on screens throughout the terminal. According to Valentínyi, even during rush hours, wait times rarely exceed 12 minutes thanks to improved throughput and preparation.