Best of Budapest & Hungary

This September, more than a thousand runners took part in Budapest Airport’s charity race, the Runway Run. In keeping with tradition, the airport operator donated the entire amount raised from entry fees to charity. The 50,000-euro donation—equivalent to more than 18 million forints—went to the SUHANJ! Foundation, which supports sporting activities by people living with injuries and disabilities, and to the Save Lives Public Benefit Foundation, which makes the dreams of children suffering from serious, life-threatening illnesses come true.

    The Save Lives Foundation supports children suffering from serious illnesses and their families,  while SUHANJ! Foundation will use the donation, among other things, to purchase equipment that supports sporting activities by people with disabilities and to develop the SUHANJ! Fitness, the integrated gym for athletes with and without disabilities.

    The Runway Run is a running race for the aviation community, held on the airport’s closed runway I. Athletes from various foundations also take part in the charity race year after year, further emphasizing the spirit of the event; sharing the experience of exercising together. Over the past thirteen-years, Budapest Airport has donated all proceeds – over 138 million HUF - to charitable causes.

    The sponsors of the 2026 race: Dorko, Smarteq, HungaroControl, Celebi Ground Handling, Menzies Aviation, Heinemann Duty Free, SIZA, Z&Z Biztonságtechnika Kft., Plaza Premium, Café Frei, Aeropark.

    The STARGATE project has concluded: Budapest Airport participated in innovative sustainability initiatives

    The EU-funded innovation project STARGATE (SusTainable AiRports, the Green heArT of Europe) has come to a close. The project aimed to reduce the environmental impact of aviation and develop solutions that support sustainable and smart airport operations. The project was coordinated by Brussels Airport, and the consortium was formed through the cooperation of more than twenty airport, industry, technology and research partners, with support from the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 program.

    As part of STARGATE, Budapest Airport participated in developments supporting sustainable aviation and environmentally conscious operation. One of the project’s key outcomes is an interactive, online platform showcasing the benefits of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), which uses a playful approach to raise awareness about the importance of the green transition in aviation.

    In addition, Budapest Airport has developed an online platform that displays airport traffic restrictions and closures, which helps employees plan their routes more easily, avoiding unnecessary detours and the resulting additional emissions.

    The experience gained and solutions developed through the STARGATE project will continue to contribute to making airport operations more sustainable in the future and support Budapest Airport’s efforts to operate as one of the most innovative and environmentally conscious airports in the region.