Budapest Airport in Hungary is to restart its easyJet connection with Lyon-Saint Exupery Airport in France.
The low-fare carrier previously operated the route in 2019/2020 prior to the pandemic with an annual seat capacity of almost 50,000. The resumed year-round service will be operated twice-weekly, starting on 21 August 2024 with Budapest Airport anticipating an initial 38,000 annual seats, while high historic load factors suggest demand will drive increasing frequencies, possibly as early as SS25.
In 2019, traffic on the route was predominantly inbound leisure passengers from France (90%+). As the service matured its popularity increased among Hungarian travellers who increased their share to 24%. A similar trend is forecast in 2024.
Commenting on the return of the service, Máté Ritter, Head of Airline Development at Budpaest said the return of the Lyon route is very timely and responds well to the trend of increasing tourism demand from France. “In 2023, even without a direct route, there were 22,000 two-way transfer passengers travelling from Lyon to Budapest, making it one of Budapest’s largest indirect city-pairs in Europe. The proximity of Lyon to the French Alps, with many of its renowned ski resorts only a two-hour drive from the airport, is sure to attract Hungarian skiers and make it a popular route in both directions.”
The link with Lyon marks the fourth easyJet route being operated from Budapest. The low-fare carreir already operates services to London Gatwick in the UK as well as Basel and Geneva in Switzerland.
Photo: easyJet is to relaunch its popular connection between Budapest Airport and
Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport on 21 August 2024, operating the route twice-weekly. Supplied by Budapest Airport
