Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Hungary unveils plan for up to 5 new international airports and a dozen of business airstrips

Hungary unveils plan for up to 5 new international airports and a dozen of business airstrips

The government’s plan envisages construction of 4-5 large international airports and a dozen of business airstrips

International airports in Hungary are set to double their number under the Orbán government’s new airport development strategy. The ambitious plan was unveiled recently by Levente Magyar, Parliamentary State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Local focus


Speaking at a conference in Budapest, the State Secretary said that the projects would take 5 to 8 years to implement, and include construction of 4-5 international airports in the countryside, alongside a dozen airfields for business traffic.

“We do not need large-capacity airports everywhere, but Nyíregyháza (domestic airport) needs a decent 1.5 kilometre-long runway. Thus, if business partners arrive, heading for example to the Záhony region, they will not need to drive over from Budapest or Debrecen,” said Magyar, as quoted by MTI.

He added that the market actors will develop units suitable for receiving cargo transport aircraft, which will bring the transportation of goods in Hungary into a new dimension.

Whetting Orbán’s appetite


Despite the 2020 pandemic lull, traffic at Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport is picking up and now disproportionately exceeds that of the 4 other international airfields (Debrecen, Győr-Pér, Hévíz-Balaton, and Pécs-Pogány) combined, according to Hungary Today data.

And, apparently, true to the proverb, appetite comes with eating. Just days ago, Prime Minister Victor Orbán said during a foreign visit that Hungary will buy back Ferenc Liszt International Airport which had been privatized by the Gyurcsány government in 2005.

Orbán’s words seem to confirm Bloomberg’s story of last week that a consortium led by Hungary’s government has offered about EUR 4 billion for the full control of Budapest Airport. There actually was an earlier bid this year but it was rejected by the owners as undervaluing the airport.

So far, AviAlliance, the airport operator and biggest shareholder, and Hungary’s Innovation and Technology Ministry which is leading the negotiations on behalf of the government, have declined comment. But sources familiar with the talks claim that the government is pressuring the airport owners to clinch the deal before the April 2022 elections, as the opposition has threatened to review all controversial Fidesz contracts if it comes into power.

STARGATE project


Meanwhile, the international consortium that owns Budapest Airport has announced that it has won a total of EUR 25 million from the European Commission in the framework of the STARGATE sustainability project. As part of the project, Budapest Airport will spend EUR 1.53 million to develop and build sustainability solutions for the airport. 70 percent of this amount will be EU funding with the rest provided by the airport itself.

These solutions include a cloud-based, paper-free air cargo handling system as well as smart, multimodal transport hubs, and other projects concerning the terminal which will improve its energy-efficiency and traffic functionality. According to the company statement, the implemented short and medium-term green solutions will set an example for other airports in Europe and elsewhere.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Munich Airport Reopens After Second Drone Shutdown
Pro Europe and Anti-War Babiš Poised to Return to Power After Czech Parliamentary Vote
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced to Fifty Months in Prison Following Prostitution Conviction
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Trump Says Ukraine Can Fully Restore Borders with NATO Backing
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Germany Weighs Excluding France from Key European Fighter Jet Programme
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-in and Boarding Systems at Major European Airports
Björn Borg Breaks Silence: Memoir Reveals Addiction, Shame and Cancer Battle
When Extremism Hijacks Idealism: How the Baader-Meinhof Gang Emerged and Fell
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
Trump Orders $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas and Launches ‘Gold Card’ Immigration Pathway
France’s Looming Budget Crisis and Political Fracture Raise Fears of Becoming Europe’s “Sick Man”
Three Russian MiG-31 Jets Breach Estonian Airspace in ‘Unprecedentedly Brazen’ NATO Incident
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
×