Thousands of football supporters are expected to land in the Hungarian capital for the UEFA Champions League final, prompting both Wizz Air and Budapest Airport to introduce special measures to handle what could become one of the busiest weekends in the airport’s history.
Terminal 1 to reopen for full operations
Budapest Airport confirmed that Terminal 1 will temporarily reopen and operate as a fully functioning terminal during the event period. The airport operator has reportedly been preparing for months together with authorities and aviation partners to ensure passenger traffic runs smoothly during the night of the Champions League final.
The largest increase in traffic is expected on routes connecting Budapest with London and Paris, as supporters travel to the Hungarian capital for the match. Between 29 and 31 May, the number of flights is forecast to double compared with normal levels, with nearly 800 flights operating daily on the busiest days, particularly Saturday and Sunday.
Airport officials said the additional traffic would mainly come from charter services, private aircraft and extra scheduled flights launched by airlines for the occasion. Temporary infrastructure and special passenger-handling procedures are also being introduced to manage the extraordinary demand.
Wizz Air changes London flight operations
Wizz Air announced that all of its London flights arriving on 29 May and until 5 PM on 30 May will land at Terminal 1. From 5 PM on 30 May until the end of 31 May, all London departures will also operate from Terminal 1. To help passengers transfer between terminals, Budapest Airport will run a free shuttle bus service throughout the weekend.
The airline urged travellers to carefully check their digital boarding passes for updated terminal information, adding that affected passengers would also receive direct notifications through their provided contact details.
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Passengers advised to arrive earlier
Due to the expected surge in passenger numbers and possible road restrictions around the airport, Wizz Air has advised travellers to allow significantly more time than usual for reaching the airport and travelling into Budapest city centre.
On Sunday, passengers flying on any Wizz Air London service will be able to check in at any available counter, regardless of their specific flight. The airline also warned that the Terminal 1 car park will be closed during the weekend, with vehicles only permitted to stop briefly for passenger drop-off and pick-up.
Budapest Airport has also launched a dedicated online information page in coordination with UEFA and participating airlines, encouraging passengers to monitor flight information systems and airline communication channels closely throughout the event.
Read more about the final: Budapest braces for Champions League final chaos, as flights and hotel prices soar
