Good Summer Numbers at Budapest's Main Airport

The growth in passenger numbers, typical of the summer months, continued in August, with a total of 1,299,814 passengers passing through Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. August was thus the third month in a row when passenger traffic reached or exceeded 80% of the record-breaking 2019 volume before the coronavirus pandemic, and the fourth month when total monthly passenger traffic exceeded 1 million. In the summer months, Budapest Airport handled a total of 3,802,591 passengers, nearly as many as in the whole of 2020, the year most affected by the pandemic.

The most popular destinations in August were Tel Aviv, London, Amsterdam, Antalya and Frankfurt, according to the latest airport bulletin published by the airport management company Budapest Airport.

In terms of cargo volumes, despite the global downward trend, cargo volumes remain stable year-on-year, with a 47% increase in the January-August period, compared to the same months in 2019, before the opening of the Cargo City. The volume handled in August (15 375 tons) decreased marginally, by 2.1%, compared to the same month in 2021.

The bulletin adds that Budapest Airport will start expanding the baggage reclaim area of Terminal 2A in September, in preparation for the seamless handling of the expected increase in passenger traffic in the future. As a result of the development, from September 15, the flights of Air France, KLM, Finnair, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, as well as Smartwings flights landing between 14:00 and 23:59 local time will arrive at Terminal 2B and receive their hold baggage there. Budapest Airport asks all meeters and greeters; relatives, taxi companies, transfer service providers and travel agencies to wait for the affected passengers in Terminal 2B from mid-September.

The passengers of affected airlines are requested to follow the directional signs at the terminal upon arrival, and to ask for assistance from Budapest Airport staff in case of questions.

The investment is another step in a series of capacity expansion projects which will reduce waiting times for arriving passengers and make it faster and more convenient for them to pick up their bags in the larger space. The works are expected to last until 15 March.

Budapest Airport expanded the baggage reclaim area of Terminal 2B in the summer of 2019; the temporary relocation will thus not affect passenger service.