Budapest looks to fill Malev routes
Budapest Airport is taking action to fill slots left empty by the failure of Hungarian national carrier Malev last week, but is urging the country’s government not to put obstacles in the way.
The airport has launched a special route recovery incentive programme to attract the most appropriate operators to replace the services.
"We are, of course, saddened by the collapse of Malév," said Jost Lammers, the airport’s CEO.
"But we now move into the post-Malév era with a degree of optimism. We are open for business as usual and would like to thank the airlines who have already stepped in to operate some of the routes previously flown by Malév – we will continue to work with these airlines and others, with a view to offering sensible long-term solutions."
The airport’s operator, Budapest Airport Zrt, is urging the Hungarian authorities to remove obstacles currently preventing airlines from picking up the lost Malév capacity.
"For example, there are four regulated agreements which allow only one Hungarian airline to fly routes to Turkey, Israel, Russia and the Ukraine," it said.
"On flights to and from these destinations, only Malév had the right to fly. It is imperative that the Hungarian authorities move quickly to close these gaps; otherwise the road to recovery will be much slower."
Following Malev’s collapse, airlines including British Airways, Air France, KLM, Germanwings and Brussels Airlines increased frequency on their Budapest routes.
Lufthansa & Wizz Air increased capacity on some of their existing routes from Budapest and also announced new routes to help market recovery.
Air Berlin launched a new service between Budapest and Berlin starting this week, while Ryanair announced the start of five new routes in March (see earlier story).
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025