Good news for travellers: Scheduled flights return to rural Hungarian airport

Scheduled flights resume from Pécs-Pogány Airport after 18-year hiatus.

Scheduled flights return to Pécs

Regular scheduled flights from Pécs-Pogány Airport resumed after an 18-year break with the arrival of the first service from Munich by SkyHub Airlines, parliamentary state secretary Levente Magyar announced in Pécs on Monday, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The deputy minister stressed that today marked an important milestone not only for Pécs but for the entire Baranya county and southern Transdanubia, given the regional significance of the development.

“A modern economy, modern science, and modern tourism are inconceivable without good connectivity. Even a city as beautiful and steeped in history as Pécs will suffer if it is not easily accessible. For years, this has been a problem—and now, at last, we are putting it right,” he said.

A whole new world towards the Balkans

“For a city to be well connected, it needs good roads that can be readily approached. The plans are ready, and there is a timetable for building those additional expressways that will integrate the whole region more fully into the national network,” he underlined.

“To communicate and travel freely with our neighbours, we need open borders. Pécs, Baranya, and southern Transdanubia now have that, with Croatia’s entry into the Schengen Area opening up a whole new world towards the Balkans,” he continued.

“Long-distance connectivity is also essential, and that is provided by air services. A city of Pécs’s stature—a major regional hub—undoubtedly deserves an airport linking it to the world’s key points. Today’s event fulfils this third vital condition for accessibility,” he added.

Levente Magyar expressed hope that the airport’s operations would now be sustainable, allowing more people to discover Pécs.

Solution not born in Budapest

He praised the pivotal role of local politics: “This solution was not born in Budapest. Local colleagues, mayors, and the parliamentary representative who tipped the lobbying effort in the capital ensured the financial conditions for the route were met,” he listed.

He also noted that the global political landscape has been upended, with the Iranian war disrupting international fuel markets and rendering the future unpredictable.

“In this challenging moment, we have pulled off this success story. Credit is due to the operator too: without their faith in the potential of this south Hungarian, southern Transdanubian region—seeing prospects where Vienna might—we would not be here today,” he said.

“Despite the grave international situation facing both Hungary and Europe, our intent is to keep Hungary on its path of development. Today’s achievement proves this is no pipe dream,” he summed up.

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