MoU signed at recent ‘Belt and Road’ Forum to focus on establishing Hungarian capital as prime gateway to central and south-eastern Europe.
Budapest Airport has stepped up its efforts to become a major distribution and logistics base for China in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region by signing a cooperation agreement with Xi’an Xianyang International Airport.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the recent ‘Belt and Road’ Forum in Beijing, China, and will highlight Budapest Airport in China as a prime gateway to Central and south-eastern Europe.
“Strong economic cooperation is only possible between two countries if they are well-connected, which is why aviation connections through direct flights between Hungary and China are of key importance,” said Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Hungary.
“For this reason, we are delighted that a cooperation agreement between the airport of Xi’an and Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport has been signed, as this agreement may link additional Chinese cities to the network where direct flights are available from Hungary.”
Budapest Airport will also sign an MoU with Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in May during a planned Chinese delegation visit to Budapest, to further strengthen aviation links between Hungary and China.
“The foundation stone was laid with the direct connection to Zhengzhou, and now it is time to further intensify our cooperation with our new Chinese partners,” said Jost Lammers, CEO, Budapest Airport.
“Zhengzhou, Xi’an, and Budapest share a great dynamic of growth, and we are very confident that we can mutually benefit from this cooperation.”
The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been pursuing increased co-operation with China in the field of trade and the development of joint projects.
The support of Hungarian diplomats and trade promotion experts has helped Budapest Airport to double the weekly capacity of direct cargo flights between Budapest, Hong Kong, and Zhengzhou, and also to enhance the belly cargo links on board scheduled Air China passenger flights between Beijing and Budapest.
Since the beginning of the month, Cargolux has been operating two additional direct cargo flights per week between Zhengzhou, one of the fastest growing airports in the world, and Budapest.
With a view to increasing demand from dedicated cargo operators, last year Budapest Airport launched a €32.6 million project to develop a ‘Cargo City.’
A 21,600 sqm warehouse has already been completed and next to it, work is progressing on a 11,200 sqm building to house forwarders. Its location will be adjacent to a new, 32 000 sqm aircraft apron to be built this year which will enable cargo operators to service two-code F or Jumbo-sized aircraft simultaneously.
Budapest Airport’s Cargo City development will be handed over to operators and tenants by the end of this year.
Source: Lloyd’s
