Last week, the Hungarian government decided to build a new high-speed rail link between Liszt Ferenc International Airport and Nyugati Railway Station, as well as a new cargo airport. According to MTI.hu, both projects may be implemented in concession form. The former is estimated to cost 1 billion euros, while the latter is expected to cost between 0.4 and 1 billion euros. This information was announced by the Minister of National Economy, Márton Nagy, at a press conference on Tuesday.

Direct connection, 'green' and fast solution

Budapest Airport's passenger traffic has grown by an average of 14 per cent in recent years. It broke the pre-pandemic record last year, rising to 17.6 million passengers, and based on data from the first four months of this year, this growth may continue. It is estimated that passenger traffic could exceed 20 million by 2030 and reach 35 million by 2040. Such large passenger numbers would require a direct connection, which would be a 'green' and fast solution, and the airport's catchment area would also increase, he said. 

According to the plans, a new route would be built solely between Kőbánya and the airport, with the air link connecting to the national railway infrastructure. 

Preparations for the investment have begun and concession tenders could be announced within six months. Márton Nagy highlighted that foreign and Hungarian investors are expected for the investment.

They also decided to build a new airport for cargo

This construction is necessary because Budapest Airport is slowly reaching the upper limit of its annual air traffic capacity of 400–450 thousand tonnes. With the increase in passenger traffic, there are no longer any free time slots available for air cargo.

The government is considering five or six possible locations for the investment, which could be implemented at an existing airport or in a greenfield format. The condition is that the airport operates non-stop, which means it must be located far from residential areas. Another important aspect to consider when choosing a location is connectivity and proximity to railway and road infrastructure,' added Márton Nagy.

Source: MTI.hu

Photo: Budapest Airport Facebook page