Budapest Airport resurrects links to Beijing as it celebrates Air China’s inaugural flight

Budapest Airport celebrated a significant development last week, welcoming the inaugural flight of its new airline partner, Air China. Operating a triangular route via Minsk Airport on the inbound sector, with a direct connection on the return leg from Budapest to Beijing, the Chinese flag carrier will use its 237-seat A330-200s on the four times weekly service. Air China will be the sole operator to provide a non-stop connection between the two cities, with their Beijing hub becoming the first point in East Asia to be served directly from Budapest since 2012.
 

Budapest Airport greets Air China’s inaugural four times weekly service from Beijing with a traditional fire truck water arch.
 

At the official opening ceremony on Friday 1 May, Budapest Airport’s CEO, Jost Lammers

welcomed the arrival of this major new link, exclaiming: “We’re absolutely ecstatic to welcome Air China as a new airline, adding Beijing to our significant brand new services available this year. Hungary is a fast growing tourism market for China, with last year showing a 19% increase of Chinese visitors travelling to Budapest. We have been working hard to secure this service and are proud to launch this vital link from East Asia to Budapest. Having again won the Skytrax Best Airport award, Budapest Airport is extremely excited to be able to offer Air China customers a best-in-class airport experience and have no doubt this new route will be a huge success.”

 

Beijing. Cutting the ribbon with the crew are Huo Yu Zhen, Special Ambassador for Chinese Central/Eastern European Cooperation (third from left); Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Xiao Qien, Chinese Ambassador; Jost Lammer, CEO, Budapest Airport; and Jan Csien-Su, Chief Representative, Air China. Jost Lammers, CEO, Budapest Airport (third from right) comments: “We’re absolutely ecstatic to welcome Air China, adding Beijing to our significant brand new services this year.”