Hungary Seeks Qatar's Help in Buying Budapest Airport

According to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Qatar may assist Hungary in acquiring Budapest Airport Zrt., a large-scale project worth billions of dollars that have faced delays due to a growing budget deficit.

In its efforts to reclaim ownership of the Budapest hub, Hungary has persistently sought financing or partnership opportunities, as confirmed by a high-ranking government official who stated last month that the government aims to finalize a deal by the end of this year.

During an interview at the Qatar Economic Forum, Prime Minister Orban revealed that the government is engaged in discussions with Qatar regarding potential financing or investment in Budapest Airport. He emphasized that the talks are still in progress and no final decision has been reached yet.

“We would be happy to welcome them,” Orban said in reference to Qatar. “We are ready to be involved as well, strategic investment is what we need in Budapest Airport, it’s not just to buy out but to have a big scheme to develop it.”

In 2021, Hungary was reportedly engaged in advanced negotiations to acquire Budapest Airport from the current consortium of owners, primarily led by AviAlliance, a German airport management company and the largest shareholder of the airport. The purchase price was reported to be €4.44 billion ($4.8 billion).