Expansion of Second-Largest Airport Planned after Government Transfers Majority Stake

Significant changes are coming to Debrecen Airport (located in eastern Hungary), as the government has decided to restructure the ownership of the company operating the airport. Under the decision, the state will divest its stake in Debrecen International Airport Kft. and transfer it to a professional holding company. 

According to the decision, the 66.22 percent stake in the operator of Debrecen Airport, which has been owned by the Hungarian State until now, will be sold. The buyer will be the National Regional Airport Operator Holding Limited Liability Company.

In accordance with the government’s decision, the transaction will be carried out without competitive bidding, and the purchase price will be determined by an independent expert.

Based on the government’s justification for the decision, the change of ownership of Debrecen Airport serves regional development policy objectives.

The move is expected to create an integrated economic and operational structure that will ensure a more economical and organized performance of professional tasks. The government therefore intends to guarantee the more efficient operation of Debrecen Airport through structural change.

In the decision, the Minister for National Economy was called upon to take the necessary steps immediately through the Hungarian National Asset Management Company to conclude the sale and purchase agreement.

At the handover of the BMW factory, the Prime Minister promised to develop the airport. Viktor Orbán said at the time that the expansion of Debrecen Airport would begin, creating new jobs and making the city a regional hub with the increase in international flights. The project could strengthen not only the city’s but also the region’s international connections, significantly expanding opportunities for tourism and business travel.

Based on the previously announced plans, the first phase of the development will involve extending and modernizing the runway, allowing it to accommodate larger aircraft.

The expansion of the terminal and the development of the logistics infrastructure are also priorities, as the aim is to increase both passenger traffic, which would boost local tourism, and freight transport, which would further enhance Debrecen’s role in global supply chains.

According to experts, the number of international flights could increase significantly after the development, especially to Central European destinations and economically important Western European cities. This will not only improve tourism but also the international accessibility of local businesses.

The development of the airport could be a driver for the local economy: increased air transport capacity will enable new international flights to be launched, boosting tourism and business travel. László Papp, Mayor of Debrecen, previously called the development a milestone in the city’s life, emphasizing that the expansion of infrastructure goes hand in hand with job creation and economic dynamism.

Via Vg.hu; Featured photo: MTI/Czeglédi Zsolt

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