Budapest Airport is committed to providing all possible to ensure that the Hungarian tourism industry has the least negative impact after the collapse of Malév, although has limited means.

Kam Jandu Executive Director Aviation at Budapest Airport told representatives of the Association of Hungarian Travel Agents and Tour Operators that Budapest Airport is in an extremely difficult financial situation due to the losses caused by the bankruptcy of Malév, moreover the 330% increase in the airport operator's land tax worsened the burden.

Both parties agreed that further effective and rapid solutions are expected from the Ministry, eg: destinations regulated by bilateral aviation agreements with significant tourism revenues in directions such as Russia, Ukraine, Israel and Turkey.

Mr. Jandu said that Budapest Airport will be hosting Routes Europe in 2013 – the continent’s most prestigious aviation conference – alongside with their partners, the Hungarian National Tourist Office (together with the Hungarian Convention Bureau) and Budapest Tourism Office. This was announced in Tallinn where the event was officially handed over to Budapest Airport.

It was agreed that due to the bankruptcy of Malév the possibilities of organizing international conferences in the Hungarian capital have significantly deteriorated and the effects will only be seen by the so-called MICE tourism in the coming years. Both MUISZ and Budapest Airport urged increased marketing activity especially in Spain, Great Britain, France, Germany and Scandinavia for organizing conferences in Hungary. It is also extremely important to have higher funds for tourism marketing activity abroad.

On behalf of the representatives of other tourism areas Ms. Gabirella Molnár, president of MUISZ and Dr. András Simon, representative of MUISZ transportation industry raised questions. They were informed that the walk on - walk off procedure at Terminal 2 is different from the earlier one and it was implemented with the approval of authorities upon the request from Ryanair; however this procedure is eligible for all airlines.

By the autumn Budapest Airport plans to build a covered waiting facility for passengers to board their flights. Representatives of the airport also confirmed that after moving to Terminal 2 all airlines will pay fees according to the published Tariff Manuel. Incentives can equally be claimed.

This season the established and unanimously agreed system shall be applied for handing out vouchers for passengers at T2B, offering slightly more space for travel agencies and their customers on the Mezzanine Level.

Concern was expressed about the continuously shrinking charter market in Hungary mainly due to the difficult economic situation. According to first days’ experience the relocation to T2 was smooth; there is sufficient capacity available, eg. at passenger screening the summer peak hours will be managed at standard level.

According to calculations of Budapest Airport T2 was operating smoothly yesterday morning with 85% load of the August peak time.

Source: Budapest Airport