From 4 flights a week to daily service: Major upgrade for Budapest Airport!
Air China will significantly increase its direct services between Budapest and Beijing from next spring, operating daily flights instead of the current four weekly connections, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced in Budapest on Sunday.
With the expansion, Budapest will become the fourth capital city in the European Union to have a daily direct air link with the Chinese capital, a development the minister described as a major milestone in Hungary–China relations, particularly in the field of tourism.
Tourism seen as one of the biggest winners
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Szijjártó emphasised that Hungary has benefited greatly in recent years from its cooperation with China, with tourism being one of the clearest winners. He said the growing number of direct flight connections has played a key role in strengthening travel between the two countries.
The minister noted that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Hungary is expected to reach around 250,000 this year, with visitors spending approximately 600,000 guest nights across the country. This, he said, reflects a “very strong and active” tourism relationship, supported by the fact that Budapest already has direct air links to seven major Chinese cities.
Budapest to become the fourth EU capital with daily Beijing flights
At present, Air China operates direct flights between Budapest and Beijing four times a week. From next spring, however, the airline will increase the frequency to a daily service, responding to rising demand and the strategic importance of the route. As a result, Budapest will join a select group of EU capitals with daily non-stop connections to Beijing.
Closer air links seen as key to cooperation
Szijjártó underlined that increasingly frequent air connections are essential for maintaining and deepening close cooperation between Hungary and China. In his view, direct flights not only boost tourism but also support business ties, investments, and broader economic cooperation between the two countries.
“Good news, therefore, is that from spring, Budapest will have a daily direct air connection with Beijing as the fourth EU capital to do so,” the minister said, summing up the significance of the decision.
Benefits for travellers, tourism and the economy
The announcement is likely to be welcomed by travellers, businesses, and the tourism sector alike. For Chinese tourists, more frequent flights mean greater flexibility and easier access to Hungary and Central Europe. For Hungary, the expanded service is expected to further strengthen its position as a regional hub and an increasingly popular destination for visitors from China.
The move also reflects the continued recovery and expansion of long-haul air travel following recent global disruptions, with airlines adjusting capacity on key intercontinental routes where demand has been growing steadily.
