In 2023, BUD carried out capacity expansion and infrastructure developments worth a total of EUR 77 mln, bringing the total amount of investments in the large-scale series of developments started at the beginning of 2019 to over HUF 130 billion by the end of 2023. Passengers were able to see new developments, such as the expansion of the self-service baggage drop-off system, the installation of soundproof booths in the terminals, and the opening of a new observation and smoking terrace in Terminal 2B.
Family-friendly services have also been enhanced with new play areas, and security screening has been made even more seamless with the addition of a waiting time display system, now also available on the website. The baggage reclaim area in T2A has been expanded by 520 sqm and an additional two new baggage carousels, Terminal Parking opened with 586 spaces and eight spaces for coaches and the construction of a new airport hotel commenced. Work has also been going on behind the scenes with the refurbishment of several taxiways and the asphalt and concrete paving of the apron.
The first phase of the expansion of the BUD Cargo City was also completed, with the construction of two new aircraft stands, enabling four cargo aircraft to be handled simultaneously, and the warehouse and office space of the cargo handling complex was increased by 6,500 sqm.
Last year, Budapest Airport also successfully renewed its maturing bank loans, extending an important pillar of financial stability for at least another seven years, thus ensuring that the airport’s development will continue to be on a sound financial footing in the future.
These results, combined with a dividend not being paid out on the 2019 profit, allowed a dividend payment to Budapest Airport’s Hungarian parent company of EUR 43 mln after four very difficult years. The dividend remained in Hungary, to reduce losses also accumulated since COVID at the Hungarian parent company level.
“Budapest Airport was voted the best airport in Europe last year, thanks to the work of our airport community, and this year, we have won the Best Airport in Eastern Europe award for the eleventh time. The industry has also acknowledged the significant improvements resulting from our investments by upgrading the quality rating of the airport to four stars, and Budapest Airport worked throughout last year to maintain and raise this outstanding quality,” emphasized Kam Jandu, the CEO of Budapest Airport.
He added: “With a total of 28 international and Hungarian awards in one and a half years, Budapest Airport has reaped the rewards of all the effort, creative work, and energy that our company has put into continuously improving the quality of the airport and the passenger experience over the past years. Our aim is to continue this effort going forward, which is already reflected in the ASQ (Airport Service Quality) results for the first quarter of 2024, where among 20 peer airports surveyed, Budapest Airport was ranked first, ahead of Prague, Alicante, and Barcelona, for example. This is the first time in the history of the airport that we have achieved this prestigious position.”
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