It offers international connections primarily within Europe, but also to Africa, to the Middle East, and to the Far East. In 2024, the airport handled 17.6 million passengers. The airport is the headquarters and primary hub forWizz Air and base forRyanair.[9] In 2012 it experienced a significant drop in aircraft movements and handled cargo, primarily due to the collapse ofMalév Hungarian Airlines earlier in the year, hence lost a large portion of connecting passengers. It had been the hub for Malév until the airline's bankruptcy on 3 February 2012.[10][11]
Originally calledBudapest Ferihegy International Airport (Budapest Ferihegy Nemzetközi Repülőtér), on 25 March 2011 it was officially renamed Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport in honour of the Hungarian pianist and composerFranz Liszt (Modern Hungarian:Liszt Ferenc). Popularly, the airport is still calledFerihegy as before.
Ferihegy is the name of the neighbourhood around the airport. The name is derived from that of Ferenc Xavér Mayerffy (1776–1845), the former owner of an estate who established vineyards and contributed to the development ofviticulture in Pest-Buda. "Feri" is a diminutive form of Ferenc while "hegy" means mountain. In fact, the area is almost totally flat; but originally there was a 147 m high sandy hillock which was levelled in the 1940s during the construction of the airport.[7]
Since 1937, Budapest's primary airport had beenBudaörs Airport. However, within two years of its opening, it was already apparent that Budaörs was obsolete. It could not be expanded due to surrounding hills, and its runways were also inadequate.
In 1938, the idea of building a new airport in Budapest was born. The area at the boundary of three settlements (Pestszentlőrinc, Rákoshegy and Vecsés) was assigned as the area of the new airport. The airport was intended as jointly for civil-military-sporting purposes. Civil facilities were to be built up in the northwestern section and military ones in the southwestern section. Just as for each building, a public tender was invited for the designing and construction of the traffic building.[7]
In December 1939, upon an announcement of the results of the tender invited in September that year, the designs of Károly Dávid Jr. (1903–1973) were chosen. The designer, who was one of the originators of modern Hungarian architectural art, dreamt of a building which resembled an aircraft from the top-side view. The work commenced in 1942. To approach the airport from the city, a 16-kilometre (10 mi) high-speed road was constructed between 1940 and 1943, which, after improvements, remains in use today.[7]
The military buildings were constructed parallel to the civil construction from 1940 but, due to the war situation, faster. Aviation started at the airport in 1943. In wartime, the civil construction slowed down and then stopped at the beginning of 1944. Towards the end of World War II, many of the airport buildings were damaged. By the end of 1944, Budapest and its airport were under Soviet occupation.[7]
In 1947, it was decided that the airport would be reconstructed for civil aviation. Under the three-year plan, 40 million forints were voted for those works. The opening ceremony was held in May 1950 and the sections finished allowed Magyar-Szovjet Polgári Légiforgalmi Rt. (Hungarian-Soviet Civil Aviation Co. Ltd. – MASZOVLET), established in 1946, to operate here. At that time the airlines operated only a few foreign flights, in particular, those toPrague,Bucharest,Warsaw, andSofia.[7]
Magyar Légiforgalmi Vállalat (Hungarian Airlines – Malév) was established on 25 November 1954. The first regular flight taking off from the airport to the West was the Malév's flight into Vienna in summer 1956. The first Western airline which launched a flight to Budapest wasKLM in 1957. The traffic building was finished in this period and the lengthening works of the 2,500-metre (8,202 ft) runway were started. At the end of 1958 the runway was lengthened to 3,010 metres (9,875 ft) and taxiway D was finished.[7]
Between its opening and 1960, the number of landings at the Airport increased from 4,786 to 17,133, with passenger traffic increasing from 49,955 to 359,338 by 1960.[7]
In 1965, a study was made on the development of the airport, which was implemented with more than a 10-year delay from the end of the 1970s. Aviation, airport, and flight control all called for more capacity and infrastructure. The Aviation and Airport Directorate (LRI) was established on 1 January 1973 and performed as an airline company, a trading company, and an authority, as well as investment, operator, and air navigation tasks.
In 1974, passenger traffic reached one million. In 1977, a new control tower was built, as well as a second runway parallel to the old one and a technical base for maintaining MALÉV aircraft. Use of the new 3,707-metre (12,162 ft) runway was started in September 1983.[7]
In 1980, the number of landing aircraft and passengers served reached 32,642 and 1,780,000, respectively. The growing number of passengers called for more capacity. A new terminal was decided upon. The foundation-stone of the new passenger traffic building to be built was laid down on 16 November 1983.[citation needed] Since 1 November 1985, passengers have been received in Terminal 2, a 24,000-square-meter facility funded with Austrian loans under general contracting. It was used first by Malév aircraft and passengers, and then by those of Lufthansa, Air France, and Swissair. The old terminal continued to receive residual airline traffic under a new name, Terminal 1.[citation needed]
There was anIED bus attack against Russian Jewish emigrants on the road leading to Ferihegy in the early 1990s. The perpetrators were members of the German Communist organisationRed Army Faction.[12]
In 1993, Malév launched the airport's first Hungarian overseas flight, toNew York-Newark viaRome.[13][14] According to the traffic figures forecast for the millennium, the two terminals serving 4 million passengers a year promised to be insufficient. The construction of Terminal 2B was started in 1997. The new building, with more than 30,000 square metres of space, together with a new apron, was opened in 1998, with all foreign airlines moving there. Terminal 2B can receive 3.5 million passengers a year, with its seven gates and five remote stands.[15]
Between 1989 and 1991, Budapest Ferihegy Airport served as a major transit hub for over 160,000 Soviet Jewish emigrants en route toIsrael. With direct flights from theSoviet Union to Israel still politically sensitive and unavailable until late 1991, theJewish Agency andMalév Hungarian Airlines jointly operated a series of charter flights connecting Moscow, Budapest, and Tel Aviv. The operation made Hungary a key logistical partner in the post-Sovietaliyah and symbolized its broader turn toward pro-Western humanitarian policies. Due to its visibility, the airport became the focus of international attention and security concerns, including threats of terrorism and an attempted bombing in December 1991 targeting a Jewish refugee convoy.[16]
Terminal 2 in 2008, prior to the construction of theSky Court
On 8 December 2005, a 75% stake in Ferihegy Airport was bought by BAA plc for 464.5 billion HUF (approx. US$2.1 billion), including the right of operation for 75 years.[15]
On 20 October 2006, BAA announced intentions to sell its stake in Budapest Airport to a consortium led by the German airport group, HOCHTIEF AirPort GmbH, subject to the consent of the Hungarian State.[15]
On 18 April 2007, the renovation of Terminal 1 at Ferihegy was awarded Europe's most prestigious heritage preservation prize, the Europa Nostra award.[citation needed] The designers, contractors, builders and investors (the latter being BA) received the joint award of the European Commission and of the pan-European heritage preservation organisation Europa Nostra for the renovation of the protected monument spaces, the central hall, the gallery and the furniture at T1.
On 6 June 2007, BAA and a consortium led by HOCHTIEF AirPort (HTA) formally closed and completed the transaction of the sale of BAA's shares in Budapest Airport (BA) to the HOCHTIEF AirPort Consortium. The ownership of the HOCHTIEF AirPort Consortium was as follows: HOCHTIEF AirPort (49.666%) and three financial investors: Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Montreal (23.167%), GIC Special Investments, Singapore (23.167%) and KfW IPEX-Bank, Frankfurt (4.0%).[17]
On 26 July 2010, after completing a security oversight investigation in May,[18] the EU authorities revoked Budapest Airport's official "Schengen Clear" certification, due to serious lapses observed in personal security check procedures and unauthorised passing of banned objects. This meant passengers connecting via another airport in the Schengen Zone would have to be rescreened through security, just as foreign non-Schengen connecting passengers, causing delays and inconvenience. The airport argued that it had not yet had time to fully implement new security measures introduced on 29 April 2010, and inspired by theDelta Air Lines' Amsterdam "underwear bomb scare" incident. The airport's layout was also cited as an excuse for the failure. Budapest Airport was the first airport to be checked through a stringent undercover evaluation for compliance with the new regulation. (Hungarian state news agency MTI reports:[2][permanent dead link]) In response, additional security measures were immediately implemented at Budapest Airport causing flight delays at both terminals. Unusually long passenger waiting queues were observed at the busier 2A-B terminal complex's departures area. These problems were solved over time, especially through the opening of the SkyCourt terminal including a central security zone.[citation needed]
On 15 November 2010, Budapest Airport regained the "Schengen Clear"-status, after implementing the necessary security actions and after that, the airport underwent the strict re-inspection.[19]
On 16 March 2011, the name of Budapest Ferihegy International Airport was changed to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport.[2]
Sky Court, the new expansion project including shops, restaurants and lounges, also connecting Terminals 2A and 2B was opened on 27 March 2011. In summer that year, the refurbishing of the old terminal parts in T2 began and was completed in 2012.[20]
Collapse of Malév, aftermath, and future (2012–present)
In the wake of the collapse ofMalév,Ryanair announced that it would expand its flights to Liszt airport. Ryanair began selling the flight tickets to the public, but Budapest airport said that the company had not secured all of the necessary slots (which were later negotiated successfully).[21] By 9 February 2012, only six days after the collapse of the Hungarian national carrier, Liszt Ferenc Airport had recovered over 60% of its point to point traffic. Airlines that announced that new services would begin includedWizz Air,Aegean Airlines,Air Berlin,Lufthansa, andRyanair.
However, the airport had lost Malév's transfer passengers, which, prior to the airline's collapse, had amounted to 1.5 million passengers per year. A second effect of the Malév collapse was that the areas used to service the Malév fleet would no longer generate revenue even once point to point traffic had been restored. These factors created significant financial shortfalls in the airport's revenues.[22]
In February 2012,Hainan Airlines announced that they would cease services to Beijing from Budapest.[23] Prior to the collapse of Malév, Hainan had a partnership with Malév,[24] which included a codeshare.[25]
In May 2013, Hochtief Group announced the sale of its Airports unit HOCHTIEF AirPort which held a stake in the Budapest Airport and other airports to the Canadian Pension fund Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments).[26] Following the sale HOCHTIEF AirPort was renamed AviAlliance.[27]
In July 2015, the ownership of Budapest Airport was the following:
261 million euros was spent on expanding and modernising the airport infrastructure until December 2012. Several of these future projects[clarification needed] involve about further 300 million euros, and depend on regulatory decisions as well as third-party investors.[29] Since 2011, several projects have been completed, including the refurbishment of Terminals 2A and 2B with the inauguration of theSkycourt main departures hall in 2012 and an extension of Terminal 2B in 2018,[30] the construction of a new business and cargo area calledBudapest Airport Business Park[31][32] as well as a new airport hotel[33] and expanded car parking facilities.
In 2015, North American and Middle Eastern carriers announced direct flights to Budapest.[citation needed] In 2018,LOT Polish Airlines made Budapest their first hub outside Poland, launching with year-round flights toNew York-JFK andChicago-ORD. In 2018,American Airlines resumed flights to Budapest. American Airlines this time flew fromPhiladelphia, after flights from New York-JFK were suspended in 2011. PHL-BUD[clarification needed] operated for the two summers of 2018 and 2019, May–October, and was planned to continue the following summers as well. Chicago-ORD flights were planned to start in 2020, but were axed in April 2020, just a month before theinaugural flight.LOT Polish Airlines axed their Chicago-ORD flight in August 2019, just days after American Airlines announced plans to operate the same route starting May 2020.[citation needed] Nowadays, the Budapest hub ofWizz Air is the largest of all, with more than 60 destinations.[citation needed]
There are further projects for the expansion of the airport, including a new cargo facilities area as well as a new Terminal 3,[34] formerly called Terminal 2C and originally planned by 2020. In a 2021 interview, however, the newly appointed CEO stated that the construction of the new passenger hall could commence in 2025.[35]
On June 6, 2024, the government of Hungary announced that, together withVinci Airports, they have purchased Budapest Airport, the operator of Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport, from its previous owners.[38] Hungary and Vinci, after paying €3.1 billion in cash and assuming a net debt of €1.2 billion, now hold 80% and 20% ownership of the capital's airport, respectively.[39] Vinci Airports will be the platform operator for decades to come, with a concession expiring in 2080.[40] Mate Loga, State Secretary for Economic Strategy was appointed to be the Chairman of Budapest Airport, while Francois Bérisot serves as CEO now.
The now defunct Terminal 1Terminal 2BSky Court, the connection building between Terminals 2A and 2B which now houses the main departures waiting hall and shopping areaSky Court interior
The airport's passenger buildings consist of four main areas:
Terminal 1 is only used for charter and private flights
Terminal 2A is used for flights inside theSchengen Area
Terminal 2B is used for flights outside theSchengen Area
Sky Court, a large central waiting and shopping area, also the connection of Terminals 2A and 2B
From 1 September 2005, re-opened Terminal 1 served low-cost carriers. Terminal 1 is divided intoSchengen and Non-Schengen boarding gates.[41]
Being located within the premises of Budapest, it offers faster public transport time to the city centre, compared to the Terminal 2 about 3 kilometres farther. (Terminal 1 offers an about 20 minutes direct train journey to Budapest city centre, while Terminal 2 requires an 8-minute bus ride to the train station).[42]
On 14 March 2012, Budapest Airport announced that due to the traffic levels being too low in Terminal 1, extra capacity in Terminal 2, and cost saving, Terminal 1 will be closed temporarily. On 30 May 2012 all airlines were moved to Terminal 2, the low-cost airlines using now the check-in desks at hall 2B and gates at a makeshift shed outside the main building. This shed now does not operate, a new pier was opened instead.
Sky Court is a state-of-the-art building between terminals 2A and 2B with 5 levels. Passenger safety checks were moved here along with new baggage classifiers and business class lounges, such as the first MasterCard lounge in Europe.[43] New shops, restaurants and cafés were placed in the new building's transit hall. With the opening of Skycourt the Terminal 2 has become capable of receiving about 11 million passengers a year, instead of the former joint capacity of about 7 million.[citation needed]
The Schengen terminal, and formerly the "only" Terminal 2. It was inaugurated on 1 November 1985 for the exclusive use of the homeland carrierMalév Hungarian Airlines, and later renamed in 1998 to Terminal 2A. Its check-in hall serves all Skyteam and Star Alliance member airlines currently. Within its boarding area (Gates A1-A33) and arrivals level, it serves all flights to and from the Schengen-zone destinations of any airline.
The non-Schengen terminal, it is referred to as a separate object, opened in December 1998. Its check-in hall serves all flights of the OneWorld-alliance (intra- and extra-Schengen as well), as well as many other non-aligned airlines. For flights of the Hungarian low-cost airlinerWizz Air check-in desks can also be found at this terminal. However, its boarding (Gates B1-B44) and arriving area serve exclusively non-Schengen destinations.
The project "Pier B" was started on 9 January 2017. The new state-of-the-art building opened on 1 August 2018, and it is connected directly to Terminal 2B. It is 220 meters long and it includes 27 boarding gates and 10 jetbridges, which can serve more wide-body aircraft at the same time. The pier was planned to offer flexibility for traditional and low-cost airlines with boarding options via jetbridges, buses or walking directly to the aircraft.
Wizz Air has its head office in Building 221.[178] Wizz Air signed the lease agreement in October 2010 and moved there in June 2011 with 150 employees. The airline occupies over 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft) of space in an office building refurbished after the airline's arrival. The facility, with open plan offices, houses about 150 employees.[179] In addition,Farnair Hungary has its head office on the airport property.[180]
Malév Hungarian Airlines signed a lease agreement with the airport in the spring of 2011, agreeing to relocate its headquarters to the airport grounds by the summer of 2012.[179][181] Due to the collapse of the airline, in February 2012 the plans to move to Ferenc Liszt were cancelled.
Bus line 100E (bus service to and from the airport and the city center)Bus 200E (bus service from the airport to the nearest metro station,Kőbánya-Kispest)
Budapesti Közlekedési Központ (BKK), the public transit authority for Budapest, operates two major express bus services to the airport:100E and200E. Route 100E—modeled after the OrlyBus and RoissyBus airport bus services in Paris—provides nonstop service to the city center, stopping only atKálvin tér andDeák Ferenc tér. Standard tickets and passes cannot be used on this route; ahigher-fare ticket must be bought on board or at the airport's BKK ticket machines.
Bus route 200E provides service from the airport toKőbánya-Kispest station, the nearest station of theBudapest Metro. Standard tickets and passes are valid on this route.
Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) services stop at the nearbyFerihegy railway station, which can be accessed from Terminal 2 by bus route 200E. Trips into the city center from Ferihegy station take approximately 25 minutes, but service is infrequent. Ferihegy station formerly served the airport's Terminal 1, which no longer hosts passenger air services.
Several companies operate airport shuttles taking passengers to any destination in the city. Other shuttles and coach services exist to outlying towns in Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Serbia.
On August 6, 1961, aMalev Hungarian AirlinesDouglas C-47A crashed into a residential area during a sightseeing flight. All 4 crew and 23 passengers were killed along with 3 on the ground.[183]
On January 15, 1975, Malev Hungarian Airlines Flight 801, anIlyushin IL-18, a ferry/positioning flight, crashed 1360m beyond runway 31 and 120m left of the centerline because of bad weather, darkness, fog, lack of crew coordination and possible spatial orientation. All 9 occupants died.[184]
On February 22, 1994, a Malev Hungarian AirlinesTupolev TU-134 caught fire on the ground during a maintenance check at Budapest Airport. Four maintenance technicians died.[185]
^Dániel Farkas,Hungary, Soviet Jewish Refugees, and the Making of a New Geopolitical Identity, 1989–1991, Danube Institute, January 2025.Available online
^"Company overview."Archived 12 March 2009 at theWayback Machine.Wizz Air. Retrieved on 11 December 2011. "Wizz Air Hungary Airlines Ltd. BUD International Airport Building 221 H-1185 Budapest"
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