Budapest Ferihegy Airport to undergo major expansion

Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport is set to undergo a major expansion and modernization over the course of the next two to three years. The upgrades and expansion is scheduled to take place at Ferihegy Terminal 2, which is what all full-service airlines use when flying to the Hungarian capital. The expansion will initially involve the demolition of the terminal’s “heart,” which consists largely of office space between the terminal’s two wings, 2A and 2B. In its place, the Budapest Airport-Ferihegy’s privately-owned operator-will build an innovative new building, entirely out of glass and concrete. The new building is expected to offer vast open spaces, as well as floor to ceiling windows, looking out onto the runway. This will not only make T-2 much brighter, but it will also add to the airport’s transparency, making the check-in experience much more convenient.

The new Ferihegy 2 will include more shops than ever before, as well as innovative lounge space and so-called relaxation corners. This will be the first expansion of the terminal after more than a decade, as the hub’s most recent upgrade occurred in 1998, with the opening of Terminal 2B. This expansion, however, involves quite a lot more than simply the construction of a new terminal building. The project also includes a new apron, extending some 170,000 square metres, as well as two new piers and 16 air-bridges. Directly across from the terminal, Budapest Airport will also build a new multilevel parking lot and a 250 room hotel will open just next to this within the next two years. The full project is expected to be completed by 2011.

www.bud.hu