Budapest Airport has had a record first seven months of the year for cargo as a result of growth in the central European region.

In total, the airport handled 72,161 tonnes of cargo over the first seven months, up 19.6% on the same period last year.

The airport registered 49,420 tonnes of air cargo during the period and 22,741 tonnes of trucked cargo.

The airport is also able to boast a balanced market share, with inbound cargo at 47% and outbound cargo at 53%.

Jozsef Kossuth, cargo manager, Budapest Airport, said: "The high export volumes are testament to the continued industrial development of the Central European region.

“All segments of our community, including freighters, belly cargo, and integrators enjoyed volume increase in this period compared to 2016, which was already a record cargo year at Budapest Airport.”

North America and Central America, and Asia were the largest markets for Budapest Airport, both accounting for 45% of total volumes, with the remaining 10% coming from the Middle East, South America, and Africa.

Looking forward, American Airlines is scheduled to launch a daily service from Philadelphia, to Budapest in the summer of 2018, while Polish flag carrier LOT will launch six direct flights per week from Budapest to New York and Chicago in May 2018.

Budapest Airport is transforming its cargo facilities, as part of the BUD:2020 Development Programme, which will include two state-of-the-art express facilities, and a dedicated freight centre called Cargo City.

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