Budapest Airport’s Terminal 3 to break ground this year amid ambitious aviation overhaul

Hungary is set to take a major step in its aviation development as construction of Terminal 3 at Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport (Budapest Airport) is expected to begin later this year. The announcement was made by Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy, who emphasised the need to accommodate the rapidly growing number of passengers, which could reach 20 million even before 2030.

The expansion is part of a broader, government-backed strategy to elevate Hungary’s aviation sector. In addition to Terminal 3, plans are also underway for major upgrades at other regional airports. “Capacity must be built in a way that doesn’t limit future growth,” Nagy stressed, underscoring the state’s commitment to supporting large-scale infrastructure projects in air travel, Index reported.

Global first: the mirTWR system

One of the key technological pillars underpinning this strategy is the launch of HungaroControl’s new digital remote tower system, mirTWR. This EUR 20 million project, co-financed by the EU, positions Hungary at the forefront of air traffic management. The state-of-the-art system allows air traffic controllers to direct airport operations remotely without the need for on-site presence—a global first at this scale. It also ensures uninterrupted airport operations during the planned renovation of the existing control tower in the next two to three years.