Ryanair unveils five new Budapest routes and expands base – but there’s something that could stall growth

Irish low-cost giant Ryanair has announced a significant expansion of its Budapest operations, adding a new aircraft, launching five fresh routes and boosting annual passenger capacity to record levels – though the airline says further growth depends on lower airport charges.

From the 2026 summer schedule, the carrier will base an additional aircraft in the Hungarian capital, increasing its Budapest fleet to 11, AIRportal.hu reported.

This will allow the airline to operate 67 routes in total, including five new destinations: Dubrovnik, Kraków, Lamezia Terme, Marrakesh and Newcastle.

The expansion means Ryanair expects to offer around 6.5 million seats annually from Budapest, marking a five percent increase year-on-year.

Bigger, more efficient fleet

Of the 11 aircraft stationed at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, six will be next-generation Boeing 737-8200 models. These planes offer more seats and improved fuel efficiency, helping the airline keep fares low while expanding capacity.

According to the airline, the Budapest base now directly employs around 330 pilots and cabin crew, while supporting more than 4,600 jobs indirectly across Hungary.

Tax cuts boosted traffic

Speaking at a Budapest press conference, Jason McGuinness, Ryanair’s commercial chief, highlighted that the Hungarian government’s decision to abolish the aviation “extra profits” (departure) tax had already delivered results.

Since the tax was scrapped in 2025, the airline says its passenger traffic in Budapest has grown by 15 percent. The current base expansion represents a USD 1.1 billion investment, underlining Hungary’s importance within Ryanair’s European network, which spans 36 countries and nearly 100 bases.