Traffic at Budapest Airport was already noticeably heavier on Friday owing to the UEFA Champions League final, with nearly 750 aircraft movements expected—equating to more than 71,000 passengers—well above a typical Friday’s figure of around 450 movements, Budapest Airport Plc told the Hungarian News Agency.
The company noted that, beyond its significance for supporters and teams alike, the Champions League final represents a major moment in the life of the host city, while posing an exceptional operational challenge for the airport. Tens of thousands of visitors and fans are arriving in Budapest, with aircraft movements nearly doubling and passenger traffic rising by an average of 60 per cent between 29 and 31 May, the Hungarian News Agency wrote.
Preliminary plans suggest similarly heavy traffic on both Saturday and Sunday, meaning that all three days of the final period will see peak volumes at the airport.
It added that airport staff, volunteers, authorities and partner companies are working to ensure the smooth travel of all passengers—whether attending the match or not—as well as that of teams and supporters.
Special procedures have been introduced for the duration of the event, alongside temporary infrastructure, while the Airport Police Directorate has deployed increased personnel to guarantee passenger safety.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the government said that the staging of Saturday’s Champions League final is not at risk. It assured all subcontractors involved in the Lounge Event that payment for work duly carried out under contract will be honoured in connection with the organisation of the final.
“The government’s aim is to ensure that subcontractors involved in the preparation and delivery of ongoing events of national economic and strategic importance continue to operate in a stable environment; to that end, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of the Interior are continuously monitoring and coordinating processes, while guaranteeing funding for services performed in accordance with contractual obligations,” the statement said.
Budapest Transport Centre ready
Budapest’s public transport authority, BKK, says it is fully prepared to welcome supporters arriving for Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final, with the first groups landing at Liszt Ferenc International Airport on Friday afternoon.
Alongside intensified timetables, additional staff have been deployed to ensure that travel demand linked to some 60,000 fans and a series of multi-day events across key venues is handled smoothly and to the highest standard, the company said.
Heightened taxi inspections will also be carried out at major locations across the capital and at airport terminals over the weekend. BKK has urged both visiting supporters and Budapest residents to rely primarily on public transport during the event.
Increased frequency
Since the opening of the Puskás Aréna, BKK and its operators, including BKV Zrt. and ArrivaBus, have gained considerable experience servicing more than 50 major events. Saturday’s final marks the fourth UEFA event of comparable scale in which the capital’s transport organiser and its partners play a central role.
However, organisers note that the logistical challenge is greater this time, as events will take place not only at the Puskás Aréna but also across multiple sites, including City Park, Heroes’ Square and the MTK Sportpark on Kerepesi Road. Fan marches are also expected to depart from these locations on match day, affecting road traffic.
The M2 and M4 metro lines, as well as tram 1 — all key routes serving the stadium — will run every two to three minutes during peak periods, providing capacity for tens of thousands of passengers per hour. To accommodate visitors to the Champions Festival at Heroes’ Square, the M1 metro will also operate at increased frequency over four days.
Significant additional capacity will be provided on airport services. Between May 29 and 31, the 100E Airport Express and the 200E bus will run to intensified, coordinated timetables, departing as frequently as every two to three minutes, supported by an extra 20 to 30 buses.
Changes in the timetable of airport shuttles
From Terminal 1 — temporarily reopened for the final — dedicated 100E services will offer direct connections to the city centre in the lead-up to the match. On site, mobile ticket offices and passenger coordinators will assist arrivals with ticket purchases and information.
After the match, all airport services, including the 100E and 200E, will stop at Ferihegy railway station to ensure smooth access to Terminal 1.
If you missed it: Key decision on Budapest taxi fares was taken by the City Council
Match tickets will entitle holders to free travel across Budapest’s entire public transport network, including the 100E Airport Express, between May 29 and 31.
BKK said it is working closely with the National Event Management Agency, Budapest Airport, the police, ambulance services, disaster management authorities and other partners.
Traffic restrictions will be in place around the Puskás Aréna and other key sites, with certain areas accessible only on foot on match day. Police are also expected to close the airport expressway between 8am and 5pm, reserving it բացառively for public transport.
Updates on public transport changes will be published continuously on the BKK Info website, with road traffic information also available via BKK Info – Közút.
Passengers are advised to use the BudapestGO app to plan their journeys, offering real-time service information, route planning and ticket purchasing options, BKK said.
Have you read this one? Budapest Airport introduces new security screening system to reduce long queues
Click for more travel-related news stories.
