American Airlines has launched direct flights from Philadelphia to Budapest, resuming transatlantic flights after a six-year hiatus. The plane landed in the Hungarian capital shortly before 9 am. American Airlines will operate the seasonal flight with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner until October 5, state news agency MTI reported on May 22.

The US airline began the transatlantic flight in 2018, but it ceased in 2020 due to the pandemic and was not relaunched. The flight is the first scheduled direct one connecting Hungary and the United States in six years. Hungary acquired an 80% stake in Budapest Airport in June 2024 from an international consortium, with France's VINCI holding the remaining 20%. The new owners announced ambitious plans, including the construction of Terminal 3, which is expected to double annual passenger traffic to 40 million by 2035. 

The Orban government announced a concession tender in October to select bidders for the multi-billion-euro investment, which would include the construction of a new high-speed rail train connecting the airport to the city centre for €1bn. There is €1bn earmarked for the construction of Terminal 3, and a further €500mn for associated road infrastructure development, according to the latest plans. 

At the press briefing, Transportation and Investment Minister David Vitezy affirmed the government's commitment to upgrading and expanding the airport, which was "indispensable" due to capacity constraints amid rapidly growing tourism. Budapest has witnessed double-digit growth in inbound tourism, with over 400,000 tourists from the US annually, and that number is growing fast. 

Budapest remains the largest European capital without a direct rail connection between its airport and the city centre. Plans for establishing a direct link have already been completed, and the government now considers both the rail project and the upgrading of the airport access road to be priority investments. 

Budapest Airport CEO Francois Berisot called the direct flight a "milestone" for Budapest and the airport. He added that over 600,000 passengers a year take connecting flights from the Hungarian capital to US destinations. American Airlines will offer around 60,000 seats during the summer travel season and travellers will also gain easier access to additional US and Caribbean destinations through the Philadelphia hub. 

When asked by MTI, Berisot said American Airlines could decide to continue operating the flight after October, depending on demand. There is another transatlantic flight starting its operations soon, he added. In its business plan, BA  targeted 21mn passengers this year after a record 19.6mn in 2025, but had to revise its targets to around 20mn because of the conflict in the Middle East. 

The summer months could bring monthly traffic close to 2mn, also an all-time high. The airport is gearing up for its busiest period of the year, with Budapest hosting the Champions League final on May 30. Berisot said preparations for the high-profile event began a year ago and they expect 200 more daily arrivals and departures during the three-day period surrounding the event compared to the 350-400 daily figure. 

Jeannie Driscoll, American Airlines' VP for International Operations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, said the Budapest route marked an important step in the airline's international expansion strategy. During the summer peak season, American Airlines will operate more than 70 daily flights between 20 European cities and the United States, with Budapest now joining the network. 

US passengers are looking for destinations that offer "special experiences", and Budapest, with its rich cultural heritage, thermal baths, architectural riches and vibrant nightlife, fits the bill, she added.

Caroline Savage, the charge d'affaires at the US embassy in Budapest, said the new flight would strengthen economic and cultural ties between the US and Hungary, as well as tourism. Philadelphia holds symbolic importance because many Hungarian emigrants settled there during earlier waves of migration, she added. The direct flight reduces the travel time between the two cities to nine hours.