Budapest Airport, which was the fastest growing airport of the region according to its last year’s aggregate traffic, preserved its position also in January. Compared to the similar period of previous year, the passenger traffic and the number of movements in Ferihegy grew in January by 32.9% and 26.2%, respectively. The cargo traffic served by Budapest Airport grew by 13%. For the purposes of sustainable growth, the development program launched last year will continue.
The first month of this year was the best in the history of Budapest Airport. The monthly number of passengers visiting the Airport exceeded 450,000, the number of craft movements reached 9,100, and its own cargo traffic served by BA Rt. reached 3,000 tons. The number of low cost passengers exceeded 132,000.
_We have done and we will have to do much in order to sustain such growth and to preserve our position in the Central European competition for passengers and cargo traffic. By now, we have reached the end of our capacities. Nevertheless, by the development projects launched last year, Budapest might continue to be a pulling power in air transport,_ _said János Hárskuti, Chief Executive Officer of Budapest Airport Rt. The reconstruction and enlargement of Terminal 1 are in progress. Following its opening this summer, Budapest Airport will be capable to receive 2.5 million passengers. The leading logistic companies of the region confirmed their intentions to participate in operation of the planned new cargo base in letters of intent.
Budapest Airport_ 2004: growth and development
Budapest Airport grew far exceeding the European average growth of the branch last year as well. Its passenger traffic and cargo traffic increased by 28.6% and 20.3%, respectively, on an annual level. Compared to this, European increase was 9% and 8.5% in the categories mentioned above (Source: ACI). It is worth of attention that, in addition to the low cost passenger traffic almost decupled (982,000 passengers), the national airlines have also increased their passenger traffic in Budapest by some 11%.
In bilateral relation, there was an outstanding growth in air passenger traffic in the German-Hungarian (+30%), British-Hungarian (+89%) and Chinese-Hungarian (+91%) relation. The cargo traffic has reached 80,000 tons and is on the verge of the current cargo base capacity.
János Hárskuti, Chief Executive Officer of Budapest Airport Rt. was recently awarded the prize of _Manager of the Year_ by the owner, ÁPV Rt. The prize represents recognition of the Company’s last year’s performance which allowed, in addition to launching developments from own sources, also the contribution of the Company to public funds from the Company’s profit by a dividend exceeding HUF 10 billion.