New passenger pier inaugurated at Budapest Airport

The new pier adjoining Terminal 2B at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is ready to handle flights as of today. The new passenger traffic facility of more than 10 000 square meters will be installed into operation gradually, thus expanding the capacity of the airport. The construction of the new building section cost 7.8 billion HUF (25 million EUR).

A glass of cool champagne, soft drinks and pogácsa (savory scones) – these were the treats offered by Budapest Airport employees to the 156 passengers of the Wizz Air flight to Astana, which departed from the new pier B on Wednesday. Travelers on board the Airbus A 320 heading to the Kazakh capital were the first to enter and use the first boarding gate in the new, more than 10 000 square meter traffic facility.

The pier will facilitate rapid and convenient departure and arrival, and will be able to meet the diverse needs of different airlines.

The first airliner was able to depart from pier B two months ahead of schedule, thanks to a large extent to the diligent work of the contractor, KÉSZ Építő Zrt. and also the hard work of airport and IT-experts who helped to install systems in time before the opening. Due to the dynamic increase in passenger traffic over the past three and a half years, the management of Budapest Airport decided to use the first boarding gate as soon as it was ready and able to accommodate passengers; naturally, only once the necessary trial operations and security checks have been completed. Thus, the Wizz Air flight to Astana, piloted by captain Hajnalka Magyar and her crew, departed from gate C 12 on Wednesday.

The construction of pier B began one and a half years ago, on 1 March 2017, with the demolition of the concrete apron in the area, as part of the first phase. Roof-topping on the reinforced concrete and steel structured building occurred on 14 November 2017, and, due to the relatively mild winter, internal construction and fitting works proceeded practically without interruption. Following full completion, pier B will be able to accommodate three wide body (intercontinental) and four narrow body aircraft at the same time, or, alternatively, ten narrow body aircraft. It will also be equipped with bus gates, whereby it will offer a total of twenty-seven different options for passenger handling.