AVIATION TAX SCRAP DELIVERS $1.2BN INVESTMENT, 8 NEW ROUTES & 6% GROWTH TO 6M PAX

Ryanair, Europe and Hungary’s No.1 low-fares airline, today (Wed, 28 Oct) announced a bumper Winter 2026 schedule for Budapest, with 54 routes, including 8 new routes to East Midlands, Gdansk, Gothenburg, Krakow, Lamezia, Turin, Venice and Warsaw, offering Hungarian citizens/visitors even more choice at the lowest fares in Europe. This substantial growth (+6%) is supported by Ryanair’s addition of its twelfth based aircraft at Budapest for Winter 2026 ($1.2bn total investment), driving year-round traffic and tourism while supporting over 4,800 local jobs across Hungary, including over 360 highly-skilled and highly‑paid pilot and cabin crew jobs.

Ryanair’s Budapest Winter 2026 schedule will deliver:

• 1 new based a/c (12 total) – $1.2bn invest.
• 54 routes, incl. 8 new – East Midlands, Gdansk, Gothenburg, Krakow, Lamezia, Turin, Venice, Warsaw.
• Growth to 6m pax p.a. (+6%)
• Support over 4,800 jobs, incl. 360 highly‑paid local pilot and cabin crew jobs

This record winter growth is a direct result of the Hungarian Govt’s decision to abolish aviation taxes from January 2025. Since then, Ryanair has invested heavily in Hungary, increased traffic by +17%, delivering low-fare connectivity for Hungarian citizens, boosting tourism and creating thousands of jobs.

But Hungary’s growth is now at risk. Since 2024, Budapest Airport charges have increased by over 10%, making it less competitive compared to lower cost airports across Central and Eastern Europe who are lowering airport fees to stimulate traffic, tourism and jobs growth.

Ryanair calls on the Hungarian Govt, as majority owner of Budapest Airport, to match its successful aviation tax policy with competitive airport charges. If competitiveness is restored, Ryanair stands ready to accelerate growth in Hungary by increasing traffic by more than 65% to over 10m passengers p.a., adding 4 more aircraft, investing $1.6bn, and creating 120 additional highly-paid jobs across Budapest, Balaton and Debrecen.

To celebrate Ryanair’s 12^th based aircraft and a record Winter 2026 schedule for Budapest, the airline has launched a 3-day seat sale with fares starting from just 7,250 HUF, available to book now via the Ryanair app/website.

Ryanair’s CMO, Dara Brady, said:

“Ryanair is delighted to continue growing in Hungary with a 12^th based aircraft at Budapest for Winter 2026, where we will operate 54 routes, including 8 exciting new routes to East Midlands, Gdansk, Gothenburg, Krakow, Lamezia, Turin, Venice, Warsaw. This $1.2bn investment will support Ryanair’s growth to a record 6m passengers annually, driving year-round traffic and tourism, and supporting over 4,800 local jobs.

While Hungary’s abolition of the aviation tax in Jan 2025 has made the country more competitive, charges at Budapest Airport are moving in the wrong direction. It makes little sense to abolish aviation taxes on one hand while allowing airport costs to rise on the other. As majority owner of Budapest Airport, the Hungarian Govt must reduce airport charges and boost competitiveness, so that Hungary can continue to grow.”