Budapest Airport enhances its Cargo City capacities – handover of Handling Building expansion

Budapest Airport witnessed the accomplishment of another significant milestone in cargo development in December, notably the finalisation of an additional 10,000m² handling warehouse extension, complete with offices and operational infrastructure. These additions, set to augment the existing cargo handling capabilities, are now in operation and Budapest celebrated with today’s official handover ceremony, together with airport authorities and tenants of the new facilities.

Cutting the ribbon to mark the official handover of BUD Cargo City’s handling building extension are: (second left to right) József Kossuth, Cargo Director, Budapest Airport; Fazekas-Herczeg Tibor, Managing Director, Menzies Cargo; René Droese, Chief Development Officer and Deputy CEO, Budapest Airport; Trifán László, Head of Cargo, Celebi Ground Handling Hungary Ltd; and Réka Sebestyén, Property Development Director, Budapest Airport.

Following the construction and handover of the first part of the building in 2019, the completion of this extension stands as a pivotal achievement within Budapest Airport’s broader cargo expansion strategy. This strategic initiative aims to elevate the airport’s annual cargo capacity to 300,000 tons, which will see a 40% capacity increase in the main airfreight handling facility, BUD Cargo City.

René Droese, Chief Development Officer, Budapest Airport, expressed his satisfaction with the successful completing of the latest project, stating: “The expansion of our cargo handling capabilities is a strategic investment that aligns with our commitment to providing world-class services. This expansion will not only bolster Budapest Airport’s position as a key cargo hub in the region, but also contribute to the overall growth of the air cargo industry.”

The expansion came at the right time as the new capacities meet immediate demand. Attaining a significant cargo milestone, Budapest Airport has officially joined the ranks of airports managing an annual cargo volume exceeding 200,000 tons (handling 201,300 in 2023). This achievement represents a notable 3.8% increase compared to the previous year (2022) and an impressive 49% volume growth when compared to the figures from 2019. The cargo traffic development became especially dynamic by Q4 2023 and continued into January 2024 when the airport recorded 18,000 tons for the month, the strongest ever start to a year – 38.8% increase comparted to January 2023, 67% increase compared to January 2019. These records give enough reason to prepare the development of Cargo City Phase II in order to cover demand for additional cargo infrastructure.

In light of multiple cargo projects in the market and a substantial interest in the cargo services offered at Budapest Airport, aligning infrastructure with demand becomes a top priority. The airport remains responsive to market dynamics, ensuring that its facilities continue to meet the evolving needs of the cargo industry.

In addition to handling general cargo, the e-commerce sector is experiencing remarkable growth at Budapest, and the airport is dedicated to cultivating an operational environment that caters to this boom. Leveraging exceptional logistic service providers and implementing a cutting-edge digitalized platform for customs clearance, the airport ensures swift processing times for the substantial volume of shipments, thereby elevating customs control levels.