Elite aircraft from Budapest to the Far Eastern metropolis from 2026: fresh details on the new route

Asiana Airlines recently announced it is expanding its European destinations, including a direct flight from Seoul to Budapest. Now, more details and the schedule have emerged for this exciting new direct connection to the bustling South Korean capital of nearly 10 million people.

Not entirely new in Budapest

We previously reported that Asiana Airlines will include Budapest in its summer 2026 timetable, after the airline’s president, Bojoung Szong, confirmed at the Hanjin Group press conference on October 23 that the carrier is extending its European network to include Hungary. The South Korean airline has operated in Hungary before, running charter flights to Budapest in 2016 to boost Korean tourist visits to our capital.

However, a permanent direct service will only begin next April. Alongside Budapest, Asiana will fly direct to Barcelona, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Paris, Prague and Rome.

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You can already reach Seoul via Korean Air, which operates four weekly flights between the two capitals, with tickets starting at 734 euros. Until spring 2025, the Polish carrier LOT also flew this route. Although Korean Air acquired Asiana Airlines, the latter brand appears set to remain.

First take-off in April

Budflyer spotted that the first Asiana flight will land in Budapest on 3 April, with twice-weekly services on Fridays and Sundays thereafter. There is even a possibility a third round-trip flight will be added soon.

According to Utazómajom, the flights will be operated by Airbus A350 aircraft, featuring 28 Business Class seats and 283 Economy seats, allowing a maximum of 311 passengers per flight. The Economy cabin is arranged in a 3-3 seating layout across three rows.

Tickets will be more expensive

Departing from Incshoni Nemzetközi Repülőtér, flights take off at a convenient local time of 12:35 pm on Fridays, landing at Budapest Airport at 6:05 pm the same day. Although the westbound journey saves time despite the 12 hours 30 minutes duration, the eastbound trip takes longer. Flights leave Budapest at 8 pm on Fridays and arrive in Seoul at 1:40 pm the following day, with an actual flight time of only 10 hours 40 minutes, thanks mainly to high-altitude jet streams.

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Ticket prices for Asiana flights will be steeper than Korean Air’s, starting at a hefty 1,056 euros — over 300 euros more.

Together, Asiana and Korean Air will operate six weekly flights between Budapest and Seoul from April 2026.

Hungary hosts around 300 South Korean companies, employing more than 20,000 people in total.

Click to read more of our articles about South Korea.