Hungarian Conservative

A Ministry of National Economy statement released on Wednesday confirmed that the repurchase of the Ferenc Liszt International Airport continues to progress as scheduled, as opposed to press rumours.

Back in May, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán mentioned at the Qatari Economic Forum that there is interest from Qatar towards Budapest Airport, and ‘we would welcome them.’ Now, it appears that the Qatar Investment Authority is joining the deal as a financial or strategic investor, and the possibility of a third terminal is also being considered.

The new Hungarian owners aim to protect their users by already having local customer service in place for the Jófogás, Vatera.hu, Használtautó.hu, and Ingatlan.com marketplaces. They plan to compete with global players with world-class operations driven by a local touch and understanding of the market. The Ingatlan.com portfolio also includes Money.hu, a site that compares banking, financial, and insurance products, which complements the marketplaces.

Previously, there were discussions of buying out the airport with the participation of Hungarian private investors and major corporations, but despite reportedly advanced negotiations, the transaction was postponed in 2021 citing unfavourable Hungarian and international financial conditions.