Budapest Airport invests €100 million over 12 months

Credit: Budapest Airport

The three largest projects were aimed at infrastructural development: Pier 1 and the new baggage sorting hall were completed in 2020, and the BUD Cargo City was handed over at the end of 2019.

Passenger pier

The new 11,500m² passenger pier was completed on 23 June 2020, and was opened to passengers on 12 August 2020. Passengers can now spend their time before departure in a beautiful, comfortable and spacious environment that fully meets epidemiological requirements, at a stone’s throw from the aircraft stands. The new pier was completed in record time – 339 days – with a price tag of €33 million, all financed by Budapest Airport.

Baggage sorting hall

In July 2020, the construction of the external baggage sorting hall was also completed. The new building enables the extension of the baggage handling system in the SkyCourt. Works are now continuing with the installation of the baggage handling technology, to facilitate the extension of the baggage sorting and screening facility from the end of September 2020.

Following the installation of the baggage handling technology, the capacity of the entire baggage handling system will increase significantly, making it possible to simultaneously service an increased number of flights. The system that is being installed comprises a large number of elements that were produced in Hungary, thus supporting the national economy in multiple ways.

BUD Cargo City

The new air cargo base was handed over in November 2019. The Cargo City is now operating at full capacity and, as the air cargo gateway to Central-Eastern Europe, it has served as a crucial strategic point in the fight against COVID-19.

The BUD Cargo City offers a professional environment and a competitive advantage for the air freight industry, and could provide a leading role in the region for Budapest Airport and the Hungarian economy, facilitating the serving of cargo traffic more efficiently than ever before by ensuring the cooperation of market players at the same time and at the same place. The new facility also provides a sound basis for further development; with its commissioning, the combined cargo capacity of the airport reached 250,000 tonnes per annum. The total project value was €50 million.

Credit: Budapest Airport

Terminal 2 roundabout

In 2020, the roundabout leading to Terminal 2 was also completed. Thanks to the two-lane turbo roundabout, road access to the airport has become safer and faster. The roundabout was implemented with the aim to effectively serve, going forward, both the increasing passenger traffic of Terminal 2 and cargo vehicles turning off towards the Cargo City.

Terminal infrastructure

Keeping up with the advancing trends of self-service and automation, Budapest Airport recently implemented a number of forward-pointing technical developments which make it possible for passengers, for instance, to perform baggage check-in and boarding procedures themselves.

Passenger information

Thanks to digital innovation, passage through the airport is accelerated, and extended passenger information systems make the process more calculable. The airport operator has installed super-wide and ultra-sharp 4K passenger information panels in the terminals, displaying flight information clearly and transparently.  

Credit: Budapest Airport

Baggage check-in

Sixteen bag tag printer kiosks have also been made available in the check-in hall of Terminal 2B, enabling passengers to check in their bags on their own within just a few moments when flying with airlines who already have joined the system, such as Wizz Air.

With the help of this system, after scanning the barcode on the printed or electronic boarding pass, passengers can print the bag tags and attach them to their hold baggage themselves. Then, after scanning the bag tag, baggage can be simply placed onto the automated self-service bag drop counter.

The introduction of the devices is currently continuing in Terminal 2A. All in all, the self-service option provides passengers with a quicker process, while minimising interaction with other persons, thus helping to make travelling even safer during the pandemic.

Credit: Budapest Airport

Passenger security screening

The process of passenger security screening has also been made smoother by an innovative new technology.

Larger electronic devices – such as laptops and hair dryers – no longer have to be removed from hand baggage, as the new software is able to accurately screen them inside the bags. This innovation has only been implemented at a handful of airports in Europe, and Budapest Airport is one of them.  

Automation

In the second half of 2019, Budapest Airport and the National Police Command installed 12 automated passport control gates in the terminals.

Automated boarding gates were also implemented at some of the boarding gates of Terminal 2A, contributing to a quicker process with less human interaction and, ultimately, also increasing the safety of travel.

Capacity extensions

Passenger security screening

Budapest Airport handed over two new passenger security screening lanes in June 2020, increasing the number of screening lanes available in the terminals to a total of 18. With this capacity expansion, waiting time before security screening can remain below 15 minutes, even in the busiest periods, in line with relevant international standards.

The new lanes are equipped with an automated system enabling the introduction of the most advanced method of screening cabin baggage, called remote screening. This allows X-ray image analysis to be performed offsite, in a quiet environment, for better concentration.

Passenger bathrooms

Over the past few years, bathroom capacity at the airport was increased by 70 per cent on average, having been doubled at the restaurants on the mezzanine level of the SkyCourt and, after the capacity expansions in Terminal 2A until 2016, sanitary blocks were also refurbished in the arrivals hall of Terminal 2B, where toilet capacity will be tripled once the works are completed.

Airport environment

The airport operator also used the period of low traffic for the continuous development of the airport environment.

The curbside – the area in front of the terminal building dedicated to parking, as well as passenger drop-off and pick-up – has been refurbished, and the floor tiles in the check-in hall of Terminal 2A have been replaced. The new light-colored floor creates a clear, simple and transparent space for passengers.

Credit: Budapest Airport

The walkway between the terminal and the Business and Terminal Parking area has been fully renewed, including nice landscaping and shelter against weather conditions.

Runways and the heavily used taxiways of the airport have also been refurbished in order to maintain aviation safety. The taxiway close to Pier B has been reinforced in preparation for welcoming back wide body aircraft soon. Works include the sustainable re-use of the former concrete layers, thus heavily reducing the need for new materials, as well avoiding construction waste.