Traffic at Budapest Airport approaches record, cargo at all-time high

Budapest Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network, recorded extremely strong passenger traffic in November.

11-month passenger traffic at Budapest Airport approaches record, cargo hits all-time highs

Budapest Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network, recorded extremely strong passenger traffic in November, with a total of 1,401,245 passengers using Ferenc Liszt International Airport, which is not only 22% higher than last year’s figures, but also 10% higher than the previous record-breaking November of 2019. Remarkably, the airport’s passenger traffic has broken records every month this year, exceeding the 2022 full year total by September. By November, passenger traffic not only surpassed the 2023 12-month total by 1.3 million passengers, but also exceeded 16 million, approaching the previous record total from 2019, bud.hu.

Photo: FB/Budapest Airport



The most popular destinations in November were London, Milan and Paris

The volume of cargo handled also set a record in November, with 31,121 tonnes handled in Budapest, 40.1% more than in the same period last year. The 271,962 tonnes of goods handled in the first eleven months of the year not only exceeded last year’s total by 49%, but has already surpassed the total volume handled in 2023. As with passenger traffic, air cargo volumes in each month of the year have exceeded the volumes registered in the same periods of the previous year.

How to make your Christmas travels carefree – rules and tips for festive travel

Terminal 2 at the airport is adorned with Christmas lights. In addition to creating a festive atmosphere, Budapest Airport pays special attention to managing the increased traffic over the Christmas period, to ensure a comfortable and seamless passenger experience for everyone. As part of this effort, the airport operator will provide a high staffing level, adjusted to the volume of traffic, and will also operate security checkpoints in line with traffic, helping to minimise waiting times.

In order to ensure seamless security screening, Budapest Airport asks passengers to check the latest information before departure about prohibited items that cannot be carried in hand baggage or hold baggage: fireworks and sparklers, for example, are considered hazardous for aviation and cannot be carried in hand or hold baggage. Of the tools commonly used in the run-up to Christmas, rolling pins and poppy seed crushers may only be carried in hold baggage, and care should be taken to ensure that only snow globes with a capacity of less than 100 millilitres are carried in hand baggage, and that this information is clearly marked on the item by the manufacturer. Snow globes larger than this can be carried in hold baggage.

Due to the increased traffic over the festive period, please arrive early at the airport, use online check-in and self-service baggage drop-off, and remember that larger electronic items, such as laptops and hairdryers, no longer need to be removed from hand baggage during security screening.

Budapest Airport’s tree planting campaign continuing

As well as reducing the airport’s carbon footprint, Budapest Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network, is also acting to protect local natural assets. This year, Budapest Airport’s employees have again joined forces for the environment: in December, 20 employees planted a total of 650 saplings in Ócsa. This year, the third tree planting campaign, in cooperation with the Forest Savers (Erdőmentők), has already added 21,000 trees to the forest near Ócsa and the Danube-Ipoly National Park.

Experts also paid particular attention to ensuring that the initiative was carried out in places where it was really needed. Climate change has led to the emergence of a fungal species on the nature trail in Ócsa, which has attacked the native forest-forming tree species of the wetland forest. The only chance of preserving this habitat, unique in Europe, is to plant tree species that are resistant to the invasive fungus.

In addition to the December campaign, Budapest Airport is supporting the work of the Forest Savers, with several million forints, who will use the funds to plant a total of 8 000 tree saplings in protected areas this season, as well as to achieve other conservation goals.

In addition, the joint project of the Municipality of Rákosmente and Budapest Airport aiming to save the Merzse marsh, reached an important milestone in the spring. The necessary preparatory surveys and environmental impact assessments have been successfully completed, and the subsequent on-site works will allow the Merzse marsh and the Little Merzse to regain their former ecological values in the future. Budapest Airport provided support of 10 million HUF for the project. Please click here for more information.

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