Best of Budapest & Hungary

Record passenger traffic is expected at Ferenc Liszt International Airport this summer, for which Budapest Airport started preparing last fall. By providing adequate resources, as well as precise planning and close cooperation with members of the airport ecosystem, the airport operator is ready to handle the traffic of the coming months and to ensure the safety and convenience of all passengers in all situations.

    Passenger traffic at Ferenc Liszt International Airport continued to soar in the fifth month of the year, with a total of 1.7 million passengers passing through the airport, 16% more than in May last year. This means that 7.4 million passengers have already traveled through Budapest Airport in the first five months of 2025. This upward trend is set to continue in the coming period; passenger numbers typically peak in the summer months, when the school holidays and good weather boost the propensity to travel, and the number of charter flights can triple, in addition to scheduled flights. Budapest Airport already started preparing for this period in the fall of 2024, with the involvement of stakeholders from the airport ecosystem, and is prepared to do its utmost to ensure the safety and convenience of passengers.

    Complex and sophisticated operation

    Aviation is a complex, multi-stakeholder process, so it requires accurate, coordinated and precise work from all players. The summer period is a challenge, as up to one third of annual passenger traffic is concentrated in these three months. In addition to the airport operator, airlines, ground handlers, authorities and air traffic controllers all have an important role to play in ensuring a good passenger experience, including in case of delays. They all need to work closely together and share information to react quickly and efficiently, while ensuring passenger safety. In addition to the complexity, it is also important to emphasize that external factors, such as the weather conditions, may affect services at the airport, to the extent that delays or cancelations may happen.

    Budapest Airport therefore considered it very important to prepare for this summer in close cooperation with other partner companies. Active dialog with stakeholders, joint problem identification, accurate planning and the provision of adequate resources will help to ensure that this summer’s passenger traffic runs as seamlessly as possible. The parties will provide feedback to each other through regular meetings, as the development of complex aviation processes and a rapid response to circumstances can only be achieved with the presence and active contribution of all stakeholders involved.

    HungaroControl Zrt. and the Ministry for National Economy are key strategic partners of Budapest Airport in the management of the summer peak. Within the framework of the strategic cooperation between Budapest Airport and HungaroControl, projects have been launched in eighteen areas, which aim - directly or indirectly - to improve the passenger experience and service quality.

    Technological and infrastructural developments

    The airport operator is continuously developing the infrastructure of the airport. The refurbishment of the bridge leading to Ferenc Liszt International Airport and the area used for pickup and drop-off is underway, which will make the area suitable for safely handling the growing traffic in the long term.

    Until the construction of Terminal 3, the capacity of Terminal 2 is being expanded. The areas through which all passengers pass and which are therefore likely to be particularly busy will be optimized; the area of the passenger hall will be increased until the end of the year, where a total of 36 self-service baggage drop-off machines are now available, and early baggage drop-off is offered by several airlines. The efficiency of the security screening checkpoint has been improved for this summer season, which—based on experiences from the first half of the year—led to reduced waiting times. The most frequently used security lanes have been equipped with the latest, most efficient body scanners.

    International trends behind summer flight delays

    Aerial passenger numbers typically peak in the summer months, when, in addition to scheduled flights, charter flights can triple, further saturating the already congested European airspace.

    In a complex process like aviation, factors outside the airport’s control can cause disruption and slowdowns. Such factors include for example technical failures, the availability of aircraft crews or the weather. Passenger safety is a primary concern in the event of a storm system, so if the weather could pose a threat to air traffic, ground handling, take-offs and landings may be suspended. A stoppage can lead to a build-up of delays at both the airport of origin and the destination, and in general, the more turns an aircraft makes, the more likely it is to accumulate a delay by the end of the day.

    Assistance for passengers in case of delays

    Budapest Airport set up passenger assistance points last summer on both the A and B side of Terminal 2, which will be available this summer as well. Rapid information due to flight delays or cancelations will be available for passengers primarily in these areas, along with food, drinks, hygiene products and baby food for families with small children, if necessary. The BUD:carezone area provides passengers with all the contact details and information they need.

    Airport staff wearing blue vests are available all year round to assist passengers both at the help points and in other areas of the terminal.