Budapest Airport, operator of the capital’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport, expects passenger numbers to grow by 300,000 to 9.2m in 2012, head of the company’s air transport division Kam Jandu said at a press conference on Monday.

Conventional airlines were the motor of growth at the airport in 2011, but this year, that role could be played by low-fare airlines, Mr Jandu said.

CEO Jost Lammers said the company was pleased with the government commitment to national carrier Malev, adding that the airline had a future and a market.

Most of the airport’s transit passengers arrive or depart on Malev flights, thus Budapest Airport wants to help the airline cut its costs, he said. Malev will move into its new headquarters at Liszt Ferenc this year, saving on rent costs, he added.

Budapest Airport does not expect any more long-haul flights to be added to the timetable this year, but flights to Tokyo, Chicago and New York could be launched in 2013.