The expansion brings the carrier’s total routes from the city to 67, with an annual capacity of 6.5 million seats.

While Ryanair CCO Jason McGuinness praised the Hungarian government for its "sensible decision" to abolish the special environmental tax, he voiced frustration over rising operational costs and a lack of engagement regarding regional expansion.

The Regional Stagnation

Despite the growth in the capital, proposals to base five additional aircraft in Hungary and launch ten new routes from both Debrecen and Balaton airports have hit a wall. McGuinness described the government’s response to these plans as "radio silence."

The proposed regional expansion would have added one million annual seats outside of Budapest, but it remains contingent on government commitments regarding infrastructure and a guarantee against new special taxes. "We met the government and took them through the plan in detail, but it’s been silence ever since," McGuinness noted, adding that other European countries are actively competing for that same capacity.

Concerns Over Airport Charges

The airline also raised alarms over airport fees in Budapest, which have climbed roughly 25% over the last two years, effectively replacing the abolished tax. Ryanair leadership warned that while the government aims to double the airport’s capacity by 2034, high charges make it difficult to convince airlines to fill that space.

McGuinness criticized the long-term development timeline, suggesting that the airport needs "low-cost, efficient facilities" now rather than "over-engineered" projects a decade away.

The Slovak Comparison

The Ryanair team contrasted their experience in Hungary with that of Slovakia. Following a swift collaboration with Slovak ministers and a 65% reduction in air traffic control fees, Bratislava Airport has seen a significant surge in traffic.
 

While Ryanair’s claims of the airport "doubling in size" appear slightly hyperbolic—actual data shows a 25% increase to 2.44 million passengers last year—the airport is indeed experiencing record growth, fueled largely by a new base from rival Wizz Air.

A Selective "New" Schedule

While Ryanair’s summer announcement highlighted five "new" routes, the flight to Marrakech has actually been operational since January. The genuine additions for the upcoming season include Dubrovnik (3x weekly), Krakow (2x weekly), Lamezia (4x weekly), and Newcastle (2x weekly).

In response to these critiques, Budapest Airport stated that its tariff policy is designed to maintain regional competitiveness while reflecting the operational needs of its airline partners.
 

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