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It expects annual passenger traffic in Hungary to rise 6% to 6 million.
The new routes connect Budapest with East Midlands, Gdańsk, Gothenburg, Kraków, Lamezia, Turin, Venice and Warsaw.
Ryanair put the total investment represented by its Budapest-based fleet at USD 1.2 bln. The airline said its operations support more than 4,800 jobs in Hungary, including over 360 pilot and cabin crew positions.
The carrier attributed its expansion to Hungary’s abolition of aviation taxes in January 2025, saying its passenger traffic in the country had increased 17% since then.
However, Ryanair warned that rising airport charges could constrain further growth. It said charges at Budapest Airport had increased by more than 10% since 2024, weakening its competitiveness against lower-cost airports across Central and Eastern Europe.
The airline called on the government, as Budapest Airport’s majority owner, to reduce charges. Subject to improved competitiveness, Ryanair said it was prepared to increase annual traffic in Hungary by more than 65% to over 10 million passengers.
That expansion could include four additional aircraft and 120 additional jobs across Budapest, Balaton and Debrecen. Ryanair put the investment represented by that potential fleet at USD 1.6 bln.
“Ryanair is delighted to continue growing in Hungary with a 12th based aircraft at Budapest for Winter 2026, where we will operate 54 routes, including 8 exciting new routes to East Midlands, Gdansk, Gothenburg, Krakow, Lamezia, Turin, Venice, Warsaw. This $1.2bn investment will support Ryanair’s growth to a record 6m passengers annually, driving year-round traffic and tourism, and supporting over 4,800 local jobs,” said Dara Brady, Ryanair’s chief marketing officer.
“While Hungary’s abolition of the aviation tax in Jan 2025 has made the country more competitive, charges at Budapest Airport are moving in the wrong direction. It makes little sense to abolish aviation taxes on one hand while allowing airport costs to rise on the other. As majority owner of Budapest Airport, the Hungarian Govt must reduce airport charges and boost competitiveness, so that Hungary can continue to grow.”
To mark the announcement, Ryanair launched a three-day seat sale with fares starting at HUF 7,250 through its app and website.
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