Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport is the largest of the country’s four commercial aerodromes. Originally the airport was called Budapest Ferihegy International Airport, and on March 25, 2011, it was officially renamed to Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport in honor of the Hungarian pianist and composer Franz Liszt. The aerodrome is located 16 km southeast of the of Budapest center.
The port primarily offers international connections to Africa, the Middle East, North America and the Far East. Thanks to these features, it is one of the important facilities for private plane hiring services. In 2019, the aerodrome managed to exceed expectations by carrying 16,2 million passengers. The airport is the headquarters of Wizz Air and the base of Ryanair.
In 2015, North American and Middle East carriers announced that they would operate direct flights to Budapest. In 2018, LOT Polish Airlines made Budapest one of its hubs outside of Poland, with flights to New York – JFK, Chicago – O’Hare, Kraków and London City. Today, Wizz Air’s Budapest headquarters is the largest in the region with more than 60 destinations.
Budapest private jet charter prices
Although Budapest air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Budapest are as follows.
Light Jet | 11.100 EUR |
Midsize Jet | 15.900 EUR |
Heavy Jet | 22.900 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
When was Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport established?
In 1938 the idea to build a new airport in Budapest was born. The area bordering the three residential areas (Pestszentlőrinc, Rákoshegy and Vecsés) has been designated as the new airport area. The aerodrome was designed for civil, military, sports and private jet use. Military facilities were to be built in the northwest and southwest sections.
In December 1939, upon the announcement of the results of the tender held in September that year, Károly Dávid Jr.’s designs were selected and construction began in 1940. Due to the war that broke out during the construction phase of the airport, the military part of the port gained priority and was completed first. During wartime, construction slowed and stopped in early 1944. Towards the end of World War II, many airport buildings were damaged. By the end of 1944, Budapest and its aerodrome remained under Soviet occupation.
In 1947, the restructuring of the airport came to the fore; however, as a result of the slow progress of the works, the projects considered were only completed in 1950 and the opening took place, albeit incompletely, on that date. Despite disruptions leading up to its opening, the number of landings at the Airport increased from 4.786 to 17.133 from its opening to 1960, and passenger traffic increased from 49.955 to 359.338 by 1960. Private plane landings and take-offs were also heavily influential in this traffic. In 1965, a study was conducted on the increase of the airport’s passenger capacity, which was implemented with a delay of more than 10 years from the late 1970s.
The 80s were a turning point for the airport
In 1980, the number of airplanes and passengers landing reached 32.642 and 1.780.000, respectively. As a result of the increasing number of passengers, the airport has grown again and new buildings have been built. On December 8, 2005, its 75% of the Ferihegy Airport was purchased by BAA plc for HUF 464,5 billion (approximately US$ 2,1 billion), including 75 years of operating rights.
On April 18, 2007, the renovation of Terminal 1 in Ferihegy was awarded Europa Nostra, Europe’s most prestigious heritage conservation award. Until December 2012, 261 million euros had been spent on expanding and modernizing the airport infrastructure. In 2014, Emirates opened daily flights to Dubai, UAE, using Boeing 777-300ER aeroplanes. This was followed by Air China’s flights to Beijing Capital and an Air Transat connection to Toronto Pearson, both using the Airbus A330.
How to get to the center from Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport?
Budapest public transport authority Budapesti Közlekedési Központ (BKK) provides two main express bus services to the airport, 100E and 200E. Modeled after the OrlyBus and RoissyBus aerodrome bus services in Paris, Route 100E offers nonstop service to the city center and stops only at Kálvin tér and Deák Ferenc tér. Bus route 200E serves from the port to Kőbánya-Kispest station, which is the nearest station of the Budapest Metro.
Another way to get from the airport to the city center is by taxi. Taxis are available throughout the day in front of the terminal buildings. The official Taxi partner of Budapest Airport is Főtaxi, which orders a taxi at the exit of both arrival areas (outside the building).
Hungarian State Railways operates commuter and long-distance services via Kőbánya-Kispest between Terminal 1 in Budapest city center and Nyugati Train Station. The journey takes about 25 minutes. From Terminal 2, passengers should take bus 200E to Ferihegy vasútállomás (Ferihegy train station).
Many companies operate airport shuttles that take passengers anywhere in the city. Shuttles and buses are also available to other cities in Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Serbia.
Places to visit in Budapest
Famous for its thermal springs and known as the City of Baths, Budapest has a rich historical background. The main places to see in the city, where cultural tourism is intense, are the Parliament Building, Buda Castle, Heroes’ Square, Gellért Hill and St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Although not well known, Budapest has a famous nightlife with its pool parties. Szimpla Kert (Simple Garden), Fogas Ház (House of Teeth), Doboz are some of the entertainment venues that attract the most tourists in the city that hosts the Ruin Bar culture.