Budapest Airport processed a record 127,145 tons of cargo in 2017, up 13.4 percent on the previous year, and 39.1 per cent on 2015.

The Hungarian hub ended the year with a balanced market share, with imports at 47.8 per cent, and exports at 52.2 per cent.

January to February 2018 figures were a record 21,750 tons, up 17.4 per cent on the same period last year.

“Our cooperation agreement with STO Express and EKOL last year is testament to our continuous commitment to strengthening links between China and the European Union,” said René Droese, Director Business Unit Property and Cargo, Budapest Airport.

“As a result of being designated the preferred hub for air cargo by STO Express, ecommerce is set to experience a notable upswing at Budapest.

“Thanks to our development program, we will be able to cover the entire cargo catchment zone, from Ukraine to the Czech Republic, and from Poland to Bulgaria, where the relevant air cargo industrial production is booming.”

Budapest Airport has leveraged a strong belly cargo network, with LOT Polish Airlines set to launch two flights per week to Chicago, and four flights per week to New York, and American Airlines set to commence a daily service to Philadelphia, creating direct links between the United States and Hungary.

“We expect further growth of 20,000 tons belly cargo capacity annually thanks to the belly capacity on flights from Qatar Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, and American Airlines,” added Droese.

The Central European hub opened two new express facilities totaling 16,000 square meters in the summer of 2017, as part of its EUR160 million BUD:2020 Development Program.

A 20,000 square meter dedicated freight center, called Cargo City, will be handed over in the second quarter of 2019, and will expand the hub’s cargo handling capacity to 250,000 tons per year.