Hungary Airlines to launch giant jet from Budapest this year!
Budapest is set to welcome a major boost in air freight capacity this November, as Hungary Airlines prepares to introduce a converted Boeing 777-300ERSF to its cargo fleet. The aircraft, a wide-body twin-engine plane originally designed for passengers, will be operated by Air Atlanta Europe under a wet-lease agreement, including crew, maintenance, and insurance.
Replacing the old 747s
The introduction of the 777-300ERSF marks a significant step for the UTA group’s cargo operations. Hungary Airlines currently operates a state-leased Airbus A330F on its five weekly flights to Zhengzhou, China, while the group’s Fly Meta subsidiary uses Air Atlanta-operated Boeing 747-400F freighters between Budapest and Hangzhou, AIRportal.hu reports. The new “Big Twin” Boeing will gradually replace these older 747s.
Service schedule and destinations
According to fleet-tracking databases, the first aircraft will fly from Budapest under the registration 9H-JJB, with the second 777-300ERSF expected to enter service in the first half of 2026. Flights are scheduled to reach China and Hong Kong, strengthening Hungary Airlines’ Asian cargo network.
Advanced freighter design
The 777-300ERSF was developed through a conversion programme by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), initially launched in 2019 with GE Capital Aviation Services, later acquired by Aercap. The converted freighter is powered by GE90 engines and is capable of carrying up to 47 standard pallets on its main deck: ten more than the 777F based on the 777-200LR and eight more than the 747-400F.
It is also designed for temperature-sensitive cargo such as pharmaceuticals, perishable goods, and live animals, while consuming up to 21% less fuel per tonne than its four-engine predecessors.
Modernising Hungary Airlines’ cargo fleet
Air Atlanta Europe confirmed that the first 777-300ERSF will enter commercial service this November, with the second aircraft joining Hungary Airlines’ fleet in 2026. The move is a modernisation of the airline’s cargo operations and a significant upgrade in efficiency and capacity for Budapest’s air freight sector.