Addressing the event, National Economy Minister Marton Nagy said the state's repurchase of the airport, in 2024, would support the government's policy of economic neutrality. He added that the period of time to recoup the purchase price had "decreased significantly" from the sixteen and a half years calculated at the time of the transaction as the airport was overperforming in a number of respects.

Passenger traffic at Liszt Ferenc reached a record 17.6 million in 2024, climbing around 20pc from a year earlier. Cargo turnover jumped 50pc to 300,000 tonnes.

Nagy acknowledged the results of the work of Vinci Airports, the state of Hungary's partner in the repurchase, in managing Liszt Ferenc. He said the cooperation between Liszt Ferenc operator Budapest Airport and Vinci Airports could add destinations to the timetable, including transatlantic ones.

Nicolas Notebaert, the president of Vinci Airports, highlighted the importance of the company's partnership with the state of Hungary and said it paved the way for their shared success.

Budapest Airport's new logo was unveiled at the event.

When the airport's purchase agreement was signed, market experts calculated that the purchase would pay for itself in 16.5 years. Now it seems that time is significantly shorter, as the airport has exceeded previous expectations in several respects, the minister emphasised.

Nagy explained that the airport broke all previous records, welcoming 17.6 million passengers in 2024, which exceeded the 2023 figure by about 20 percent. The growth has continued this year and will continue, he stated. 

The airport also closed the first quarter of this year with a historic high, with the monthly passenger number rising to over 1.5 million in April. There are 200 flights operating in the summer season, to about 130 destinations.

He also noted that seventy-five years ago, on May 7 in 1950, Budapest's international airport was opened to the traveling public.

Source:

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