The cooperation agreement was signed today at Ferenc Liszt International Airport by Jost Lammers, CEO of Budapest Airport and Dávid Vitézy, CEO of BKK. The main aim of expanding the strategic cooperation between the two companies is to be able to offer better services to airline passengers arriving at or departing from Budapest Airport.

The agreement provides a legal framework for the joint projects launched by the two companies, as a result of which the parties will establish another customer point, selling tickets and travel cards and providing information to passengers, on the arrivals level of Terminal 2A, in addition to the BKK customer point already operating at Terminal 2B. Ticket and travel card vending machines selling BKK products will be placed at the bus stops at the airport. Budapest Airport will contribute mostly by assuming installation and maintenance costs, but it will also finance the installation of the new ticket machines.

BUD and BKK also agreed on a series of measures to regulate the bus and taxi services at the airport, in line with the changes that were introduced by the Budapest municipality in September 2013. Thus, from 10th December, Budapest Airport will ensure that only regulated taxi operators from Budapest will have the convenience of unlimited complimentary access to the kerbside of Terminals 2A and 2B. BKK agreed to enforce stronger controls over the operation of taxis at the airport; it will check taxi entrepreneurs within the area of the airport at least three times per week to ensure compliance with the taxi decree. The taxi stand at the airport will remain in the same location as currently, with both Budapest Airport and BKK entitled to check its lawful use.

Additionally, Budapest Airport Zrt. is entitled to publish a tender for the use of the taxi stand based on its own criteria, and to perform the evaluation based on its own criteria, independently, within its own competence, following prior coordination with BKK and the Budapest Municipality Lord Mayor’s Office. The aim of the joint efforts is to offer high-quality, reliable and safe ground transportation services to business and leisure travelers when using the capital's airport.

“We have done a lot in recent years together with BKK to improve the travel experience for all passengers at Budapest Airport, whether they are Hungarians or visitors from other countries,” said Jost Lammers, CEO Budapest Airport at the signing of the agreement. He added: “We think it is very important that all key players in the industry should work closely together, since we share the same interests. We as airport operator can do more in the future together with the City Hall of Budapest to continue to improve the quality of services that all passengers expect when using a European capital city airport, and this will no doubt result in higher numbers of satisfied business travelers and tourists to this wonderful city.”

„It is of special importance for the Budapest Municipality and BKK that passengers traveling to and from the airport should receive high-quality services when using public transportation and taxis. Whilst previously, it was not possible for tourists arriving in Budapest to obtain information about public transport or to buy tickets by credit card at the airport, the objective today is to provide comprehensive information for foreigners arriving in Hungary, and to enable them to purchase tickets and travel cards. This also contributes to a positive image of the country and the capital, which is why the Budapest municipality and BKK, in cooperation with Budapest Airport, are doing everything they can to develop services,” said Dávid Vitézy, the CEO of BKK after the signing.

Source: Budapest Airport