Ryanair is adding a 12th aircraft to its Budapest base and operating 54 routes this winter. But could lower airport charges help bring more flights to other parts of Hungary?

Ryanair is expanding its operations in Budapest with a record winter schedule, but the airline believes Hungary could attract considerably more passengers if airport costs became more competitive. At a press conference in the capital, the airline’s chief marketing officer also faced questions about its approach to regional airports and the possibility of exploring more of Hungary beyond Budapest.

Ray Brown of Magyar Minute attended the event at Hotel Vision Budapest, where he heard details of Ryanair’s latest expansion before sitting down with Dara Brady for a one-to-one conversation. With support from Daily News Hungary, Brown also explored what the airline’s plans could mean for travellers and the country’s wider aviation market.

Ryanair adds a 12th aircraft to its Budapest base

Ryanair’s winter 2026 schedule includes 54 routes from Budapest, supported by the addition of a 12th based aircraft. The airline says its annual passenger traffic in Hungary stands at around six million.

According to the company’s announcement, its Hungarian operations support more than 4,800 jobs, including 360 pilot and cabin crew positions. These figures cover employment supported by the airline’s activities, rather than exclusively new jobs created by the latest expansion.

However, Ryanair argues that Hungary could handle substantially more air traffic if its operating environment became more attractive.

If you missed it: Ryanair expands Budapest base, but warns Hungarian government

Why airport charges matter to Ryanair’s plans

A central theme of the conversation was the cost of operating flights from Hungary. Ryanair has called for lower airport charges, arguing that more competitive costs could help the country attract additional passengers and support further growth.

The airline estimates that Hungary could handle more than ten million passengers annually under a more competitive cost structure. That would mean roughly four million additional passengers compared with its current traffic levels.

This is a potential growth scenario put forward by Ryanair, not a commitment to introduce a specific number of new routes. The airline’s argument is that lower costs could make additional capacity commercially viable.

The background to Ryanair’s tax dispute

The discussion also touched on Ryanair’s legal dispute with Hungarian authorities over the airline’s handling of the special aviation contribution introduced in 2022.

Ryanair challenged a HUF 300 million consumer-protection fine, worth approximately EUR 750,000 at the time. Hungary’s Supreme Court, the Kúria, ruled in the airline’s favour in the case concerning the disputed passenger information.

However, the scope of the ruling is important. The court did not examine whether the contractual clause Ryanair used to pass the tax on to passengers was lawful. Its decision therefore should not be interpreted as a general ruling that the tax itself or the airline’s contractual arrangements were illegal.

Hungary abolished the aviation contribution separately, with the change taking effect in January 2025. Airport charges are a distinct operating cost and remain central to Ryanair’s calls for a more competitive aviation market.

Stay up-to-date with Hungary Weekly Briefing: subscribe on Substack!

Could Ryanair expand beyond Budapest?

For travellers, one of the most interesting questions is whether the airline sees opportunities outside the capital. Brown raised the issue of regional airports during his conversation with Brady.

No new regional service was announced during the discussion. Nevertheless, the question highlights a broader issue for Hungary’s tourism sector: whether more competitive aviation costs could help spread international travel opportunities beyond Budapest.

Regional connections could offer visitors a more direct way to reach destinations elsewhere in the country, while potentially bringing additional tourism revenue to areas beyond the capital. For now, however, any such expansion remains a possibility rather than a confirmed part of Ryanair’s plans.

Where would you spend 48 hours in Hungary without Budapest?

The conversation ends with a question for travellers: if you had just 48 hours to explore Hungary but had to leave Budapest off your itinerary, where would you go?

From historic towns and wine regions to lakeside destinations and countryside escapes, Hungary offers plenty of alternatives for visitors willing to venture beyond the capital. Whether airlines can make those destinations easier to reach is another question – and one that could become increasingly relevant if Hungary’s regional aviation market grows.

Watch the Magyar Minute video for Brown’s conversation with Dara Brady and a closer look at Ryanair’s plans for Hungary.

Video and footage: Ray Brown / Magyar Minute. The video was recorded at Hotel Vision Budapest.