Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport has entered a new phase of operational growth after finalizing a landmark partnership with global aviation services provider Menzies Aviation and local ground handler Airport Service Budapest Zrt. (AS Budapest). Under the agreement announced in early July 2025, AS Budapest will transfer its entire ground handling and cargo operations to Menzies, which will own a majority stake in the newly formed Menzies Aviation Hungary Kft. and Menzies Aviation Cargo Hungary Kft. This move brings all of Budapest Airport’s handling functions under one internationally recognized brand and sets the stage for improved service delivery across passenger, cargo, and premium operations.
The strategic Memorandum of Understanding securing this transfer was approved by the Hungarian Competition Authority, marking a historic milestone for Hungary’s principal international gateway. The approval paves the way for significant capacity enhancements, aligning Budapest Airport with Central Europe’s leading standards for seamless ground operations and cargo logistics. AS Budapest, in exchange for transferring operations, will acquire a minority stake in the restructured Menzies entities, ensuring regional expertise remains integral to future growth.
All existing AS Budapest staff—over 1,000 employees across frontline and support roles—will be seamlessly integrated into the Menzies Aviation Hungary workforce to guarantee operational continuity. Among the high-value assets now under the Menzies banner is the SkyCourt Lounge, the largest premium passenger facility at Budapest Airport, which will benefit from Menzies’ global hospitality standards. The unification of branding and teams is expected to accelerate turnaround times, streamline processes, and deliver a consistent travel experience for both airlines and passengers.
Collectively, the new joint venture will manage more than 2,500 monthly flights and handle over 12,000 tons of cargo each month, leveraging a dedicated team of more than 1,000 trained professionals. The comprehensive suite of Menzies services at BUD now includes passenger check-in and boarding assistance; baggage handling—including lost-and-found support; full air cargo processing and logistics; aircraft cleaning and de-icing; aviation security; and airside equipment and transport management. This integrated model positions Budapest Airport to respond swiftly to rising demand while maintaining the highest global service benchmarks.
The partnership arrives on the heels of Budapest Airport’s record-breaking performance in 2024, when it handled 17.57 million passengers—a year-on-year increase of 19.5%—and processed nearly 300,000 metric tons of air cargo, up 48.8% versus 2023. These figures underscore the airport’s rapid recovery and growth trajectory following the pandemic, reaffirming its appeal to leisure and business travellers as well as freight operators seeking a reliable Central European hub.
A key pillar of the alliance is Menzies’ earlier investment in BUD’s Cargo City, completed in 2024. That project expanded warehouse capacity by 3,000 sqm, added a 1,500 sqm manoeuvring area for trucks and ground support equipment, and introduced 300 sqm of modern office and social facilities. These enhancements have already raised the airport’s cargo throughput efficiency and attracted new freight carriers, solidifying Budapest’s reputation as a scalable logistics gateway.
Looking ahead, the joint venture is poised to support Budapest Airport’s ambition to serve 20 million passengers by 2030. The collaboration also reflects a shared commitment to operational excellence, enhanced sustainability, and digital innovation. Menzies intends to introduce green ground support equipment to reduce carbon emissions and deploy smart cargo-tracking systems to streamline paperless processing, aligning with the European Union’s green aviation goals.
By bringing ground handling and cargo services under one cohesive, world-class operator, Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport strengthens its strategic position at the heart of Europe. The Menzies–AS Budapest partnership delivers the infrastructure, expertise, and economies of scale needed to accommodate future traffic growth, enhance customer satisfaction, and reinforce Hungary’s status as a leading travel and logistics hub in Central Europe.
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