Ambitious plans: Hungarian state plans to make Budapest Airport one of the best in the world

The Hungarian Ministry of National Economy (Nemzetgazdasági Minisztérium, NGM) announced on 6 June that the Hungarian government has bought back the company operating the Liszt Ferenc International Airport (Budapest Airport). According to information, the state plans to make the airgate one of the best airports in the world.

Photo: FB/Budapest Airport

According to a press release from the Ministry of National Economy, the sale and purchase agreement for Budapest Airport Plc. was signed on 6 June 2024, after more than a year of intensive negotiations. The transaction is now closed, and after nearly 20 years, the airport is back in national majority ownership, Daily News Hungary reported two days ago.

The transaction volume is also a record for Central Europe. In proportion to the purchase price, the Hungarian State acquired an 80 percent stake in Budapest Airport Plc. and the French co-investor VINCI acquired a 20 percent stake, Világgazdaság reported.

The purchase price was EUR 3.1 billion, or around HUF 1 200 billion. In order to buy the airport back, the Hungarian state sold several assets.

Will Budapest Airport become one of the best in the world?

Photo: FB/Budflyer

The aim of the government and the French co-investor-operator is to make Budapest Airport one of the best airports not only in the region but in the world. Through tourism and cargo, the airport will make a significant contribution to further strengthening Hungary’s role as a meeting point, i.e. it will further strengthen the linking of Western and Eastern capital and high technology in Hungary, Világgazdaság wrote.

According to the statement, the government’s vision is clear: an airport that serves the population and the economy to a high standard. The future objectives and business plan of the airport will be presented by the NGM, the owner-operator, and VINCI at a joint press conference in early July.

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