Foundation Stone Laid for New Terminal at Budapest Airport

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Minister for Economy Márton Nagy, singers Klári Balázs and György Korda, Francois Berisot, CEO of Budapest Airport, and Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and President of VINCI Airports (from left to right), at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new building complex at Liszt Ferenc International Airport

Liszt Ferenc International Airport in Budapest is entering a new era. With the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for the “Terminal+” project, the capacity of Hungary’s most important air hub is being expanded. In the presence of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the management of partner Vinci Airports, the starting signal was given for an investment that is intended to consolidate the country’s economic position in the long term.

Following the return of Budapest Airport to state ownership, the next big step is now the expansion of the infrastructure. The new terminal is expected to increase the airport’s capacity by an additional 10 million passengers per year and establish the Hungarian capital as a central hub in Central and Eastern Europe, as reported by Világgazdaság.

In his speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for Terminal 3, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán emphasized the importance of the partnership with the French group Vinci Airports. The entry of a professional partner (with a 20 percent stake) is crucial to ensuring the efficiency of airport operations, he said.

We have avoided the pitfall of pure state ownership by bringing on board a partner who understands the business,” the prime minister explained. “The government sees Vinci not only as an investor, but as part of the family,” he added.

The economic figures prove this approach right. In 2025, Budapest Airport recorded a record number of over 20 million passengers. With revenues of 331 million euros, the airport exceeded expectations by 25 percent. As a result, the Hungarian state’s repurchase of the airport could pay for itself after just 15 years – two years earlier than forecast.

Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of Vinci Concessions, was also impressed by the development.

He particularly highlighted the Bud Cargo area, which has become the leading center for freight traffic between Europe and Asia.

Over the next ten years, investments totaling one billion euros are planned to modernize both the airside and landside infrastructure.

The development will take place in several stages in order to fundamentally improve the capital’s connection to the airport:

By the end of 2028: Expansion of road connections. For 200 billion forints (527 million euros), the expressway between the city center and the airport will be expanded to three lanes in each direction over a length of 12 kilometers.

By 2035: Planned completion of the new Terminal 3.

Parallel to 2035: Construction of a direct rail link to efficiently connect the airport to the national and international rail network.

“Today we are laying the foundation stone for the third terminal. This flight departs from Budapest and does not require a transfer in Brussels,” Viktor Orbán concluded his speech with a wink in the direction of European politics.

Via Világgazdaság; Featured image: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Kommunikációs Fõosztály/Kaiser Ákos

The post Foundation Stone Laid for New Terminal at Budapest Airport appeared first on Hungary Today.

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