American Airlines has returned to Budapest with the resumption of its direct flight to Philadelphia, restoring one of Hungary’s most important air links with the United States. The daily service, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, runs from May 22 to October 5, 2026.
The Philadelphia route will operate daily between Ferenc Liszt International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport. Flights depart Budapest at 10:05 a.m. and arrive in Philadelphia at 1:30 p.m., while return flights leave Philadelphia at 5:30 p.m. and land in Budapest at 8:10 a.m. the following morning.
The aircraft has 234 seats and offers Business, Premium Economy and Economy classes. Over the summer, American Airlines expects to provide nearly 60,000 seats on the Budapest-Philadelphia route.
Wider North American access
Philadelphia also gives Hungarian passengers access to one of American Airlines’ fastest-growing U.S. hubs. From there, travelers can connect to more than 100 destinations across the U.S. and beyond, including the Caribbean.
Hungary and the U.S. saw more than 630,000 air passengers in 2025. Budapest Airport says the return of American Airlines is the result of years of preparation and ongoing efforts to rebuild the airport’s long-haul network.
American Airlines is heading into what it expects to be a record summer. Between May 21 and September 8, the carrier forecasts 75 million customers across 750,000 flights, with Memorial Day weekend expected to be especially busy.
