Fire at London airport: all flights cancelled, including flights from Budapest
A fire broke out in a car park at London Luton Airport on Wednesday night, causing it to partially collapse. Air traffic at the airport, north of the British capital, was suspended until midday on Wednesday.
Flights from Budapest are also affected. Wizz Air operates several daily scheduled flights from Liszt Ferenc International Airport to Luton, the first of which departs in the morning.
According to the fire department, a vehicle caught fire on the upper level of car park no. 2 near the passenger hall. The flames quickly spread to several other cars, Index reports.
According to information received early Wednesday morning, fifteen units are involved in the extinguishing. However, half of the building has been completely engulfed by fire and the upper structure has collapsed over a large area.
Firefighters worked to prevent the fire from spreading to the interior of the airport, the report said.
The airport said in an early morning statement that all flights to Luton were suspended until 12 noon UK time on Wednesday (13:00 CET). Early morning arrivals were diverted to other UK airports including Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and Gatwick.
Rescuers transported four firefighters and one airport employee to hospital for smoke inhalation. Luton is one of the five major international airports serving London, with more than 13 million passengers last year.
The airport has undergone significant development and expansion in recent years, including the construction of the new car park, which is now partially burnt down.
These exclusive pictures from Luton Airport Carpark Fire #LutonAirport I’ll be live on @BBCBreakfast reporting on the latest from 6am. pic.twitter.com/XMk4waZijF
— Greg McKenzie (@GregMcTweets) October 11, 2023
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Dominik Szoboszlai: The sensational prodigy bringing the glory days back to Hungary
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Hungary has long had a reputation for nurturing some of football’s most prodigious talents. Dominik Szoboszlai is one such youngster who has the world at his feet and is seen as the man to bring the glory days back to the Hungarian national team. Szoboszlai is only 22 years old, yet he possesses leadership qualities usually reserved for a man several years his senior and footballing skills usually only seen once in a generation. Such is his ability that his presence in the starting line-up influences online betting in Texas, across Europe, and the world over.
Szoboszlai is an incredible talent. European football’s most prominent clubs had him locked firmly in their sights when it became known that RB Leipzig was open to selling him for the right price. Liverpool of the English Premier League beat everyone to Szoboszlai’s signature, and he now plies his trade on the biggest stage. Want to know more about the young man carrying the weight of a nation on his shoulders?
The Early Years
Szoboszlai’s journey to football stardom began in the picturesque Hungarian town of Székesfehérvár. His father, Zsolt Szoboszlai, was a professional footballer in the Austrian lower leagues. Zsolt wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and began training him from the age of three by placing plastic bottles on the ground for the young Szoboszlai to dribble a football around.
They say practice makes perfect, and it did not take long before scouts noticed Szoboszlai’s natural ability. FC Liefering in Austria, a club known for its commitment to young talent, offered Szoboszlai the chance to join their youth academy.
He made his debut for Liefering as a tender 17-year-old on July 21, 2017, and scored his first professional goal two weeks later. Szoboszlai played 42 games in midfield for Liefering, scoring 16 times.
The Move to RB Salzburg
Many of Europe’s top clubs were monitoring Szoboszlai’s progress after a stellar start to his career. RB Salzburg, one of Austria’s top clubs, secured Szoboszlai’s signature. It is fair to say Szoboszlai hit the ground running despite the obvious step up in the quality of the opposition he faced. His growth continued rapidly, with his midfield performances showcasing his ability to dictate play and create goal-scoring opportunities, and he showed he knew where the goal was.
In December 2019, he scored a last-minute winner in the UEFA Champions League against Liverpool. Little did he know then that he would eventually turn out in the famous red shirt of Liverpool.
Szoboszlai spent three years with RB Salzburg, scoring 26 goals in 83 appearances in all competitions.
Moving to RB Leipzig
In January 2021, Szoboszlai embarked on a new journey when he put pen to paper with RB Leipzig of the German Bundesliga. The German team paid a reported €20 million for the up-and-coming star, making him the most expensive Hungarian player in history. Injuries prevented Szoboszlai from making an appearance during the 2020-21 season.
Szoboszlai shone for RB Leipzig in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns, playing in a total of 91 games in the Bundesliga, cup competition, and Europe and finding the back of the net 20 times.
Becoming Liverpool’s Future Captain
Liverpool, one of the most famous clubs in world football, was overhauling its midfield after the 2022-23 season. Head coach Jurgen Klopp earmarked Szoboszlai as his priority signing. Upon learning RB Leipzig has inserted a release clause into Szoboszlai’s contract, the Premier League giants met RB Leipzig’s valuation of €70 million and happily made the bank transfer.
Life in Liverpool has started well for Szoboszlai, with the youngster already putting in Player of the Match performances. He made his Liverpool debut in the season’s opening game in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea and scored his first Liverpool goal in a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa.
Klopp has described Szoboszlai as “a beast,” the faithful Liverpool supporters are already singing the Hungarian’s praises.
The International Star
Szoboszlai represented the Hungarian national team at Under-17 level, where he was the team captain and a stand-out performer. He also captained the Under-19 team and progressed to the Under-21 side despite only being 17.
In June 2017, still aged 17, Szoboszlai received his first full international call-up but did not feature in the games against Russia or Andorra. In March 2019, Szoboszlai made his international debut in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia. His first goal in the famous red of Hungary also came against Slovakia later in the qualification process.
By November 2022, Szoboszlai was one of the first names on the Hungary team sheet. Following the retirement of Ádám Szalai and a long-term injury to Péter Gulácsi, Szoboszlai was appointed captain of the national team, a significant honor in any player’s eyes.
To date, Szoboszlai has scored seven goals in 34 games for Hungary. If Szoboszlai manages to stay relatively injury-free throughout his career, there is no doubt that he will break Balázs Dzsudzsák‘s national team appearance record of 109 caps.
The Hope of Hungarian Football
Hungary has a rich footballing history thanks to the “Golden Team” of the 1950s achieving legendary status. The likes of Nándor Hidegkuti, Sándor Kocsis, and the iconic Ferenc Puskás put Hungarian football on the map. Things have not been as rosy for the Hungarian national team since those memorable days, but the good times could be returning with Szoboszlai in the starting XI.
Szoboszlai has abundant technical brilliance, drawing comparisons to some of the game’s greatest playmakers. He has vision and creativity beyond his years, and his goal-scoring ability is incredible for such a young midfielder.
It is not only Szoboszlai’s ability that could be the catalyst for the return of glory days to Hungarian football but also the fact he is an inspiration to millions of young Hungarians. Football-crazy kids will watch Szoboszlai and want to emulate him. They know that although much of Szoboszlai’s talent is natural, he has spent countless hours honing his skills, so anything is possible with hard work and dedication.
Another airline to fly to Budapest for Christmas
British airline Jet2 has recently announced its year-end schedule, which includes flights to the Budapest Christmas Fair.
British airline Jet2 will fly to Budapest from several UK cities as part of its winter schedule. From Birmingham and Leeds Bradford airports, there are two pairs of flights a week, while from Manchester there are four flights a week to Budapest. There will also be a few extra pairs from Debrecen.
In addition, Jet2 will operate a seasonal service from Newcastle to the Hungarian capital twice weekly from 28 November to 22 December, on Thursdays and Sundays each week.
In addition to Budapest, the airline’s Advent programme also includes Berlin, Vienna, Copenhagen, Cologne, Krakow and Prague, with extra or seasonal flights to these cities from several UK airports, airportal.hu reports.
Attention: four-day Wizz Air strike coming up
Problems continue in the UK, with Wizz Air ground staff preparing for a four-day strike that could cause serious disruption for Hungarians.
Wizz Air strike
GH London has 100 workers planning not to go to work at Luton Airport from 20 September. That’s already an amount that is difficult to manage without restrictions. Because of this, passengers should expect delays and cancellations.
A one-day strike was planned on Wednesday 13, which was called off at the last minute.
Hungarian-owned Wizz Air ground handlers have announced not one but four days of strike action.
Parking workers and cleaners also go on strike
A minor problem for passengers, but still important, is that the airport cleaning staff are also on strike at the same time. This may cause inconvenience, but it has nothing to do with flight delays and cancellations.
There is also the problem that parking workers will go on strike next week. Although they will stop work for two days, not four, passengers who want to leave their cars at the airport could be in trouble. To make matters worse, the drivers of the shuttle buses from the car parks to the terminal are not working either, so it’s worth taking public transport, okosutas.hu writes.
VIDEO: Madman shouts ‘Allahu Akbar’ on Wizz Air flight, heroic passenger averts disaster
A madman went on a rampage on a Wizz Air flight from Israel to London. A heroic passenger averted the disaster and saved the lives of everyone on board.
A crazed man was pinned down by passengers after he tried to open the emergency exit on board a flight from Israel to London on Monday, 11 September, neokohn.hu reports.
The unnamed terrorist suspect was flying on Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air’s flight W9 4452. The man shouted “Allahu Akbar” until one of the passengers, 45-year-old Albanian Victor Troboloni, managed to restrain him.
“It was a very scary situation. I was thinking I might never see my mother again,” Jewish News quoted Troboloni as saying after the incident.
The heroic passenger said that the man had been acting strangely on the flight before, pacing back and forth from the entrance near the cockpit to the emergency exit at the other end.
“I saw him going up and down, maybe looking for weak points on the aircraft… checking seat numbers. I’m a plane engineer myself, I used to work in maintenance. So I know what’s going on mid-air, in flight at 30,000ft, 11km above sea level, you’ve got no escape,” Troboloni said.
“He tried to open the fire exit, he was sitting at the back and it’s easy to open a fire exit, just pull the handle and that’s it,”
he explained.
“I got the guy down. He was very heavyweight … I headlocked him and the stewardesses tied his hands with plastic cable ties … I had to do it. I held him for 10 minutes, he got out of breath, he got tired, he was tied up for 45 minutes to 1 hour before we landed in Belgrade.”
According to Jewish News, a Wizz Air spokesperson said: “The company is dealing with the onward flight of all customers to London. The safety and security of passengers and crew are the company’s top priority. The company regrets the inconvenience caused by this unexpected incident.”
The flight was eventually forced to make an emergency landing in Belgrade, Serbia.
You can watch the video of the incident below:
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Outrageous: Ryanair cancels its flight to Budapest five hours before departure
Ryanair cancelled its flight from Scotland to Budapest five hours before departure. The airline informed passengers but did not help resolve the problem.
Flight cancelled at the last minute
Referring to a letter from a reader, hvg.hu reports that the 16.45 flight from Edinburgh in Scotland to Budapest in Hungary was cancelled five hours before departure. Ryanair explained the incident by citing errors in the British control system.
Passengers on the flight received an email from the airline at midday that the problem could lead to flight cancellations, but they are working to rectify the fault and more than 20 Ryanair planes are affected.
Several passengers were informed at the airport that the next flight is scheduled for 2 September. The Hungarian passenger who was stuck at the airport said Ryanair had not helped. The central telephone number was not answered for 20 minutes.
Passengers perceived that the staff were also just then confronted with the cancellation of the flight. Several tried to ask the staff for a “flight cancellation letter”, which is needed to file a complaint with the insurance company, but no such letter was given on the spot.
The Hungarian passenger said on Wednesday that there was no change, it was almost impossible to do anything. They have not received the necessary documents and they are not getting adequate help by phone.
Orbán-university will conquer London?
The Guardian wrote that the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) will open a branch in London to “spread Hungarian leader’s populist philosophy across Europe”. The foundation behind the college said they did not plan to expand the British capital. Yet.
The Guardian calls MCC “a heavily Orbán-influenced educational institute” in their article. They added the institute is sometimes referred to as “a seminary for young Orbán-sympathising scholars and future leaders.” The British paper wrote that is how Orbán would like to cement his legacy and create a “deep state.”
MCC received a vast sum and various assets from the Hungarian government in 2020, the start of the COVID pandemic. It received GBP 1.3 billion, equivalent to the entire budget allocated to the Hungarian higher education. Furthermore, they got Ricther and MOL shares. The annual revenue only from that source was HUF 12 billion (EUR 31 million) in 2021. That sum increased to 28.4 billion (EUR 74M) in 2022 and will reach 36 billion (EUR 94.3M) this year. We can say that although the Hungarian public education system is in shambles financially (coupled with a serious teacher shortage), the fate of this institution is pretty much secured.
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- CWUR ranking: ELTE is the leading university in Hungary, but other Hungarian universities are also on the list – check out our article HERE
As it is understood, MCC planned to expand to the UK after buying up the Modul Universität Wien in Austria in May. Moreover, they already have a partnership with the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation. “MCC finances scholarships for hundreds of students to attend top universities, some of whom will now be sent on courses in the UK”, The Guardian wrote. They said the institute financed student trips to the UK, the so-called Scruton lectures.
Sources told The Guardian that MCC would like to open an outpost in the Hungarian cultural centre at Trafalgar Square, but an MCC spokesperson denied that. He said that was not yet the case.
Hungarian flights also affected by the collapse of British air traffic
There are 12-hour delays and flight cancellations because British air traffic controllers have detected a technical malfunction. The issue is also affecting Hungarian flights.
British air traffic has collapsed
A network-wide failure was reported by one airline, but British air traffic control said British airspace was not closed.
Even if a complete closure was avoided, severe restrictions had to be imposed, causing significant disruption to air traffic. Sky News adds that the problem is compounded by the fact that it is happening on one of the busiest days of the year, a public holiday in the UK.
According to the air traffic control, they are currently working to resolve and eliminate the problem. However, they added that it is not known at this stage how long it will take to get everything up and running smoothly. In fact, they are uncertain what may have caused the technical problem.
Hungarian flights are also affected
The collapse of British air traffic is causing problems not only in the UK, but also across Europe, including Hungary.
According to Eurocontrol, the European air traffic control authority, there are “very significant delays” due to the failure of the British flight data processing system. The Irish air traffic control adds that the technical problem is also limiting the capacity of UK airspace, which indirectly affects all countries.
If you check Budapest Airport, the flight information on their website shows that several flights to London have been cancelled. In addition, many flights may have drastic delays in departure and arrival, writes airportal.hu.
Ryanair flights to Stansted Airport currently do not take off before 11 p.m Central European Time. In addition, British Airways flights will certainly not arrive in the Hungarian capital before 3 a.m.
Loganair has already responded by informing its passengers that due to the air traffic problems, they can rebook free of charge on any flight within the next 48 hours.
PHOTOS, VIDEO: Hungarian gin won prestigious award at Gastro Oscar in London
Zsolnay gin, the result of a joint venture between the world-famous Zsolnay porcelain manufacturer and Búzavirág gin, has achieved an outstanding rating. It received two gold stars at the Great Taste Awards in London.
Prestigious recognition
Turizmus.com wrote that this was the first time the Hungarian Zsolnay gin was presented in front of an international jury of 400 professionals. The drink was blind tasted, thus the stunning appearance of the product did not influence the board’s decision. Therefore, both partners are equally proud of the amazing result. Péter Bárány, the founder of Búzavirág gin, said:
We are immensely pleased with the result, as we thought that the flavour – influenced by the spices inherent in Mecsek – would be most suited to Hungarians’ tastes, but it turns out it is also well-received internationally.
According to the Zsolnay Búzavirág Gin’s website, the main characteristics of the beverage are chamomile, wild ginger, lemon peel and orange peel. The taste was inspired by the spices found in Mecsek, a mountain range in southern Hungary. The gin has floral citrusy notes, and it is recommended to be paired with Indian tonic or tonic water.
The brand
The Búzavirág brand has been around for years in Hungary, making their handmade gin one of the best-known in the country. The gin comes with a modern flavour, a successful marriage of 24 components. The original Búzavirág Gin has a vibrant blue colour, which mirrors the hues of the cornflower blossoms. As the manufacturers revealed, home-grown wildflowers, among other natural ingredients, dominate the unique taste of their product. The most significant ingredients of the gin are juniper berry, linden blossom, acacia, orange blossom, allspice and peppermint.
Conquering the world
The Great Taste Awards, the food industry’s highest honour, are colloquially known as the Oscars of gastronomy. Thus, winning this prestigious accolade serves as the ultimate feedback to the brand. There are also talks about the export of this heavenly beverage. So far, the graciously packaged drink has been available at the Budapest airport and a number of Hungarian restaurants in downtown frequented by tourists. In addition, you might be able to savour Búzavirág Gin in the bars of a handful of five-star hotels in Budapest. However, after such exceptional results, it has been revealed that the brand owners are now taking to the international market. The gorgeous painted motif of the famous Zsolnay cornflower depicted on the elegant glass bottle already adds an essence of luxury before you even take the first sip of this delicious nectar.
Liverpool should repeat Dominik Szoboszlai trick in order to solve two dilemmas with one transfer
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been one of the most exciting breakout stars of the last few years in the Premier League and the England international has firmly nailed down his place as Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice right-back over the last couple of seasons. Thankfully for Liverpool fans, the 24-year-old has remained largely injury-free and although James Milner has occasionally deputised, TAA has been a mainstay of the XI. Unfortunately, the club isn’t blessed with options in this department, and with Milner having left the club this summer, the Reds desperately need reinforcements in this area of the pitch.
Connor Bradley has impressed during pre-season and has been ‘toughened-up’ by his spell with Bolton in League One and if Alexander-Arnold is to gradually make the transition into midfield, the Northern Irishman could be the perfect successor. Nevertheless, Klopp is still searching for another option in this department, and dipping back into the Salzburg pond may be the best option. The Reds are looking for an affordable option and raiding the Austrian club isn’t likely to break the bank.
The two clubs have an existing relationship, which is likely to make negotiations a little easier and Salzburg’s Bosnian right-back Amar Dedic appears to fit the bill. The Reds have looked sharp going forward during pre-season, however, they’ve conceded plenty of goals and although the addition of a right-back isn’t likely to cut out individual errors, it should help them to become far less vulnerable from the flanks.
The 20-year-old is an ideal age and with plenty of improvement still to come, Dedic could be a wise investment. He is quick and direct and is adept with both feet. Liverpool is coming off the back of an underwhelming campaign and fans will be expecting a much-improved movement this time around. Online betting sites such as FanDuel sportsbook have priced up the Reds as third favourites for the Premier League title, and although the signing of a reliable right-back isn’t likely to catapult them to the top of the betting, punters could potentially look on them a little more favourably ahead of their season opener against Chelsea.
Dedic is already showing leadership qualities and has the potential to become a household name in the top flight. He is exceptional in 1vs1 situations and has the athleticism to get up and down the pitch. He posted excellent numbers in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and his versatility would be a huge asset. The Bosnian can also play left-back if required and his capture would allow the attack-minded Alexander-Arnold to move permanently into midfield.
Ryanair reveals top travel destinations this summer for Hungarians
Ryanair, Europe No. 1 airline has revealed its most popular Summer ’23 destinations for Hungarian holidaymakers as the airline grows to carry over 300 million passengers by 2034.
This summer Ryanair is operating +450 weekly flights across 56 routes to/from Hungary and the airline is now inspiring travel trends by revealing some of its top Summer ’23 destinations. The most popular destinations for Hungarians this year include Italy (21%), the UK (18%), and Spain (10%) where Ryanair is seeing a high level of demand this summer.
To book your last-minute summer getaway and secure your seat with Europe’s no. 1 airline, Ryanair has launched a
special seat sale with fares from €29.99 available only at Ryanair.com.
Ryanair’s Country Manager CEE & Baltics, Alicja Wójcik-Gołębiowska, said:
“Summer is finally here and there’s no better way to relax than by escaping to an amazing destination at unbeatable prices. For all those Hungarians who haven’t booked a Summer getaway yet, now is the time to visit one of the marvellous beach destinations in or fly to a European capital for an exciting city break. To book your last-minute summer getaway and secure your seat, Ryanair has launched a special seat sale with fares from €29.99 available only at Ryanair.com.”
Key findings:
- Families are most likely to choose Italy (19%), the UK (15%) and Greece (13%) and they prefer trips between
3 to 7 days (73%). - Single adults are more likely to choose the UK (24%), Italy (17%) and Spain (7%) and are also more likely to
choose shorter trips of up to 3 days (60%). - The most popular trips with passengers are up to 3 days with 50% of all bookings being short getaways.
Regulator brings enforcement action against Wizz Air — UPDATED
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has taken enforcement action against Wizz Air following significant concerns over high volumes of complaints about the airline not paying passengers what they are owed.
The regulator has been in contact with Wizz Air for several months after complaints by passengers that their rights had not been met when flights were cancelled or delayed.
Passengers were left very frustrated because they believed the airline had failed to meet its passenger rights obligations – particularly around providing alternative flights to enable passengers to get to their destinations when their flight had been cancelled.
This is likely to have contributed to a large number of County Court Judgements (CCJs) which have been found against Wizz Air over the last nine months.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has now instructed Wizz Air to make changes to its policies and procedures to ensure consistent compliance with its re-routing and care obligations.
Wizz Air has engaged with the regulator and has committed to introduce changes to its policies, procedures and passenger communications. The airline has also committed to re-look at claims it received for replacement flight costs, transfers when replacement flights were via different airports, and care and assistance (typically hotel costs) following flight disruptions.
This will make sure passengers who made claims to Wizz Air in the past, but had their claims incorrectly rejected, will receive the money they are legally owed.
The action by the regulator will cover claims made for flights due to depart from or arrive into a UK airport on or after 18 March 2022. No action is needed on the part of passengers to ensure these claims are reviewed. Passengers whose flights were due to depart from or arrive into a UK airport before 18 March 2022 can also request for their claims with the airline to be reopened, as long as their flight was no more than six years ago.
Wizz Air has agreed to sign undertakings to formalise these commitments with the regulator.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority will monitor the airline for compliance with its revised policies and procedures over the forthcoming months. As part of the enforcement action, Wizz Air will also be required to provide information to the UK Civil Aviation Authority about its review of closed expenses claims.
The regulator will also review a sample of the claims that Wizz Air relooks at, so it is satisfied that passengers receive what they are owed.
Paul Smith, Joint-Interim Chief Executive at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “This enforcement action sends a clear message that airlines must meet their obligations to passengers when they cancel or delay a flight. We will not hesitate to step in if we believe that airlines are not consistently doing this.”
“Passengers have every right to expect their complaints and claims to be resolved quickly and efficiently and to be treated fairly by airlines, in line with regulations. We made it clear to Wizz Air last year that the way it was treating passengers was unacceptable.”
“We will continue to watch the situation closely to check that passengers receive what they are owed and that Wizz Air’s policies have improved, so that consumers have a better experience if things go wrong.”
Further information is available on the UK Civil Aviation Authority website.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority
The UK Civil Aviation Authority is the UK’s aviation regulator. We work so that the aviation industry meets the highest safety standards and consumers have choice, value for money, are protected and treated fairly when they fly.
The Civil Aviation Authority’s civil enforcement powers stem from Part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002. The regulator can use these powers to seek information and undertakings from businesses if it believes they are breaching consumer law in a way that harms the collective interests of consumers.
An undertaking is a voluntary agreement a firm makes to address an enforcement authority’s concerns. An undertaking can also include enhanced consumer measures to provide redress to consumers who have already suffered loss because of the suspected breaches.
These undertakings have been provided to the UK Civil Aviation Authority voluntarily and without any admission of wrongdoing or liability. It should not be assumed that Wizz Air has breached the law – only a court can decide whether a breach has occurred.
Information for consumers
- Airlines are required to offer passengers whose flights have been cancelled the choice of an alternative flight at the earliest opportunity under comparable transport conditions. We expect airlines to reimburse passengers the cost of booking their own replacement flights under comparable transport conditions if they fail to meet this obligation.
- Airlines are required to cover the costs of transferring the passenger to their original airport or another close by destination agreed by the passenger if that passenger is re-routed via alternative airports.
- Airlines are required to offer passengers care for denied boarding, flight cancellation and delays of at least two hours (including hotel accommodation for overnight delays) or reimburse passengers the costs they incur making their own care arrangements.
UPDATE, Wizz Air reaction
“Last summer, like all airlines in Europe, Wizz Air faced unprecedented operating challenges, driven mostly by the external environment, including ATC disruptions, airport constraints and staff shortages across the whole supply chain. As a result, we were unable to meet our own high standards of service. Flights were too often late or cancelled, disruption management overwhelmed our internal and external resources, and claims took too long to process and pay,” explains Marion Geoffroy, Managing Director at Wizz Air UK. “We have learned from this experience and have taken significant steps to make our operation more robust and customer-centric.”
Geoffroy added “We expect this summer to be challenging for air traffic control, which will impact airlines. While we cannot anticipate every disruption, we have invested over GBP 90 million to prepare for increased air traffic. We are confident that we have taken the right steps to better support passengers this summer season.”
Another Hungarian player joins the English Premier League!
AFC Bournemouth of the English Premier League have officially announced the signing of Hungarian international Kerkez Milos.
Hungarian footballer, Kerkez Milos had previously attracted interest from Portuguese side Benfica and Italian side Lazio, but PL side Bournemouth were the frontrunners. The English side will pay EUR 17.4 million for the Hungarian international, according to Nemzeti Sport. The Hungarian winger has already passed a medical.
Club CEO Neill Blake told the club newspaper, “We are delighted to announce the arrival of a talented young player with huge potential. He has been watched by a number of European clubs and despite this he is very keen to join us. Milos is an athletic full-back with an attacking mentality and will be a great addition to our exciting squad. We look forward to working with him.”
He’s here, #afcb fans 😍 pic.twitter.com/VqiB0HvICn
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) July 20, 2023
Iconic Budapest landmark among the most beautiful viewpoints in the world!
The list of the world’s most beautiful viewpoints has been compiled by Buildworld. The company has taken TripAdvisor user reviews into account when compiling the ranking. The top spot goes to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Budapest’s iconic landmark, the Fisherman’s Bastion, has also made the list.
Buildworld‘s list of the world’s most beautiful viewpoints has been topped by the symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, with its 360-degree panoramic view from its observation deck, Travelo reports.
Another Parisian landmark, the Sacré Coeur, has made it to the list as well. But there’s also the Hallgrímskirkja tower in Reykjavík, the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, the London Eye, and the viewing decks of the Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest.
The full list of 10
Which viewpoint would you most like to visit?
British examination board in action at Budapest’s IBS
While at Hungarian universities, students’ grades often depend on the benevolence or strictness of the lecturer conducting the seminar or lecture, the British system makes sure that all students receive their results based on the same standards. IBS is the only higher education institution in Hungary to use the Examination Board’s multi-day evaluation and control process called Moderation, which is a crucial component of quality assurance in British universities.
The Examination Boards are responsible for approving the marks obtained by the students. First, Internal Examiners, made up of IBS faculty members, carefully check the assessment packs submitted by the Module Leaders, and inspect the marking results and procedures throughout the semester. They internally guarantee conformity to predetermined standards and upholding fairness in evaluations across groups, markers, and different subjects. The assessed work submitted by students is then reviewed by the External Examiners, who are invited from British universities external to IBS and its strategic partner, The University of Buckingham. These experienced professors provide external benchmarking and add new viewpoints to the assessment process. Their insightful opinions help IBS to uphold its high British standards and further ensures that assessment strategies keep up with the times.
Through these quality assurance procedures, the Board makes sure that each student receives a fair evaluation as well as thorough written feedback that will aid in their future development. This year, the External Examiners again underlined how reliable and excellent the IBS evaluation procedures are. International Business School places a high value on transparency and fairness in its educational practices, so we are pleased with the feedback from the Examination Boards. We are delighted to continue to see it guaranteed that the quality of all assessment of student work, on all IBS Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes, is ensured in a way that is distinct from other higher education institutions in Hungary. Want to know more? Click HERE.
English star club buys Hungarian midfielder for record high sum
Hungarian soccer player Dominik Szoboszlai has signed a contract with Liverpool FC, the Premier League club said on its website on Sunday.
The 22-year-old midfielder, the captain of the Hungarian national eleven, has signed a contract worth 70 million euros. It is for a term of five years. Szoboszlai will wear the number 8 shirt for Liverpool, the club said.
Here are some more photos of him as “Red”:
“Jürgen Klopp is hugely excited at the prospect of Dominik Szoboszlai’s immediate and long-term impact as a Liverpool player”, the club’s official Facebook page wrote. “[A] really historic club, really good players, good coach, everything is good. For me it was perfect to make the next step in a club like this. The fans, the stadium, everything is really good”, Szoboszlai said in his first interview after he signed his contract. Here is the video:
About his football career Dominik said in an interview that “before games, I can’t wait to get on the pitch. I don’t get nervous. I’ve only been nervous in one match in my entire career [against Liverpool] at Anfield. It’s a melting pot! The atmosphere is really amazing!”
Europe’s 20 richest cities in culture named, Budapest to be proud of
We can be proud of Budapest again, as the Hungarian capital has been named one of the best cultural cities in Europe.
Europe’s rich history, diverse heritage and vibrant artistic scene have always been a treasure trove of cultural wonders. From ancient architectural marvels to modern art centres, the continent boasts a wealth of cultural hotspots that never fail to capture the hearts and minds of travellers, writes Helló Magyar.
Founded in 2012 in the UK and Ireland, weloveholidays is the fastest-growing online travel company and is already fully operational in Germany. The company has published new data for those looking to explore new cultures.
Their travel experts analysed a number of factors, including the number of museums, libraries, art galleries, theatres, opera houses and attractions. The resulting list includes 50 European cities.
Dr Jan Kuklinski, CEO of weloveholidays, said:
“For anyone who wants to explore new cultures, spend time in an art gallery or listen to opera, our index provides great insights into places that are ready to be discovered.”
TOP 5
Unsurprisingly, London has the most museums (195) and art galleries (258), making it the centre of England’s cultural capital of Europe. London is home to iconic places such as the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Jack the Ripper Museum and the famous Sherlock Holmes Museum.
Paris, the pride of France, came second. The city of love is home to a total of 1,000 sights, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. Paris is also home to the second largest number of theatres in Europe, with 152 in total, perhaps the most famous being the legendary Moulin Rouge.
In third place is the city of Rome, which has the most libraries on the continent (81), some of which are tourist attractions in their own right. The Angelica library, for example, houses a whole range of Italian theatrical and literary works from the 15th to 18th centuries.
Germany’s capital is the fourth city with the second most museums in Europe, with 140 museums – the Topographical Museum and the GDR Museum are just two must-visits if you want to learn more about Berlin’s history. The open-air East Side Gallery is perhaps the best-known of the city’s 104 galleries.
The fifth top cultural holiday destination is Milan, Italy. With four opera houses, it is the second most visited in Europe. A city with a passion for art and fashion also has the second most libraries, with 54.
Budapest
The Hungarian capital came in 15th place, with 165 places to visit and 40 theatres. Museum-lovers will certainly want to visit Budapest’s new museums: the Ethnographic Museum and the House of Hungarian Music in Városliget are a special experience, but Madame Tussauds, which opened a month ago, is also interesting with its international and Hungarian historical figures.
TOP 15
| Ranking | City | Country | Museums | Libraries | Art Galleries | Theatres | Landmarks | Opera Houses | Total Score* |
| 1 | London | UK | 19 | 27 | 258 | 214 | 469 | 3 | 4.30 |
| 2 | Paris | France | 85 | 50 | 204 | 152 | 1000 | 4 | 4.21 |
| 3 | Rome | Italy | 38 | 81 | 88 | 72 | 466 | 3 | 2.81 |
| 4 | Berlin | Germany | 140 | 3 | 104 | 84 | 262 | 3 | 2.78 |
| 5 | Milan | Italy | 32 | 54 | 119 | 53 | 49 | 4 | 2.63 |
| 6 | Prague | Czech Republic | 36 | 12 | 252 | 110 | 208 | 3 | 2.52 |
| 7 | Vienna | Austria | 93 | 2 | 48 | 52 | 145 | 6 | 2.04 |
| 8 | Madrid | Spain | 52 | 12 | 55 | 102 | 336 | 2 | 1.7 |
| 9 | Istanbul | Türkiye | 9 | 8 | 242 | 100 | 133 | 0 | 1.67 |
| 10 | Barcelona | Spain | 39 | 28 | 81 | 44 | 247 | 2 | 1.61 |
| 11 | Amsterdam | Netherlands | 58 | 7 | 120 | 54 | 281 | 1 | 1.52 |
| 12 | Venice | Italy | 0 | 33 | 135 | 17 | 194 | 2 | 1.51 |
| 13 | Munich | Germany | 55 | 4 | 24 | 25 | 118 | 4 | 1.29 |
| 14 | Budapest | Hungary | 42 | 2 | 52 | 40 | 165 | 3 | 1.26 |
| 15 | Florence | Italy | 0 | 23 | 56 | 17 | 136 | 3 | 1.18 |
Hungary receives award for successful debt management
London-based GlobalCapital has awarded Hungary in two categories for its successful debt management, the finance minister said on Facebook on Tuesday.
Mihály Varga said Hungary had been recognised, for the second successive year, as central and eastern Europe’s “most impressive” bond issuer, while Zoltán Kurali, head of the State Debt Management Centre, was acknowledged as the best expert in the field by GlobalCapital, MTI reports.
The minister pledged further efforts aimed at reducing Hungary’s state debt below 67 percent of GDP next year, “a full 10 percentage points below the European Union average”.
Below is Mr Varga’s Facebook post announcing the good news: