Budapest Airport Excels at Routes Europe 2024

Budapest Airport (BUD) celebrated significant achievements at Routes Europe 2024 in Aarhus, highlighting robust growth and strategic initiatives that solidify its position as a leading European hub.

With an impressive 18% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers, BUD is poised to surpass its pre-pandemic record of 16.2 million passengers in 2019, demonstrating resilience amid geopolitical challenges and supply chain disruptions.

Key successes include substantial growth in routes to China, bolstered by new services such as China Southern Airlines’ 4X-weekly flights from Guangzhou, alongside direct routes from Xi’an by China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines. These developments underscore BUD’s pivotal role in enhancing economic ties and connectivity with China.

Wizz Air, a major partner, expanded its footprint with six new routes in 2024—including destinations like Brasov, Brussels, and Bucharest—and increased frequencies across its network from BUD. Meanwhile, Ryanair expanded its summer schedule to 66 destinations, adding new services to Faro, Frankfurt-Hahn, and Trieste, among others. Additionally, KLM boosted frequencies on key routes like Amsterdam, reflecting growing confidence in BUD’s market appeal.

Looking ahead, BUD continues to target strategic markets such as India and niche destinations like Toulouse and Newcastle, aiming to diversify its route network and enhance connectivity across Europe and beyond.

Recognized for its outstanding marketing efforts and commitment to airline partnerships, Budapest Airport was honored as the Overall Winner and triumphed in the Over 5-20 Million Passengers category at the prestigious Routes Awards. Balázs Bogáts, BUD’s chief commercial officer, expressed pride in the airport’s achievements, emphasizing the significance of the awards as a testament to their dedication and professionalism.

Utilizing its Routes 360 membership, Budapest Airport remains proactive in attracting new airlines and expanding its route offerings, ensuring ongoing growth and development in the global aviation landscape. Discover more about Budapest Airport’s successes and future opportunities on Routes 360.