Hungary Cargo Development Trends

Despite the second year of the pandemic, cargo business at the Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport had a record year. The increase in transport and logistics moved ahead of competitors in the region, reaching 180,000 tons. The number of passengers – annually 4.6 million – is still a third of the pre-pandemic number, yet the cargo and logistics division is booming.

The ongoing pandemic has changed logistic and e-commerce trends and consumers’ expectations have presented challenges to the airport. Cargo transport at Budapest Airport has been competing with regional leading hubs such as Vienna and Munich. In 2021, cargo transport was up 36.4%, compared to 2020.  Also notable, cargo efficiency accounted for most of the increase, as the rate of cargo flights increased only 4.8%.

Hungary aims to have Budapest Airport become a leading Central-Europe cargo and logistics hub. Alibaba Group selected Budapest to serve its Central Eastern European air logistics hub last year, which triggered the arrival of other major cargo players in Hungary. Budapest Cargo City plays a key role in handling cargo, not only for general use but also sensitive cargo, including vaccines during the past two years of the pandemic.  Within the next two years Budapest Airport will further increase its cargo development capacities by expanding the hub.  Experts estimate that the project will create 2,000 direct and 12,000 indirect jobs at the airport.  

For additional information, please contact Csilla.Viragos@trade.gov