This year marks a major milestone for Hungary’s aviation gateway: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is celebrating its 75th anniversary. What began in 1950 as a single-runway airport welcoming just 50,000 passengers annually has evolved into a major regional hub, now serving over 60,000 travelers per day.
According to the Visit Hungary tourism agency, Budapest Airport (recognized twice as the Best Airport in Europe) has welcomed over 302 million passengers and handled 3.1 million tonnes of cargo since its inception.
Since its opening, the airport has seen substantial upgrades, including new runways, terminals, and control towers. In June 2024, the Hungarian government regained majority ownership, making plans for Terminal 3.
2025 starts with record-breaking growth
The airport kicked off 2025 with significant growth as passenger traffic rose by 13.3% year-over-year at over 4 million passengers in Q1 2025, up 15.5% from Q1 2024.
Q1 2025 saw close to 25,000 flights, up 13% from last year, as nearly 107,000 flights operated in 2024. New source markets included Switzerland and France, joining the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Turkey.
Summer 2025: 11 new routes, more seats than ever
Budapest Airport is expanding this summes with 11 new routes including East Midlands, Almería, Bodrum, Gdańsk, Vilnius, Shymkent (Kazakhstan), and Kuwait City (operated by Jazeera Airways, June–September), as 13.8 million seats are available for the summer season.
