Did you know that Ferihegy was once just a diminutive name? It came from Ferenc Xavér Mayerffy. He was a former estate owner. He helped develop viticulture in Pest-Buda. “Feri” is short for Ferenc. “Hegy” means mountain. Although it was a flat area Ferihegy originally had a 147-meter sandy hillock.
Today we are at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. It is commonly known as Ferihegy. This is the international airport serving Budapest. It is Hungary’s largest airport.
In 2011, the airport was renamed to honor Franz Liszt. He was a famous Hungarian composer. This renaming coincided with his 200th birthday. But many locals still call it Ferihegy.
Let’s delve into the story of Ferihegy. Its history starts before it was even called Ferihegy.
Back in 1937, Budapest’s main airport was Budaörs Airport. But within two years, it was too small. It couldn’t expand due to hills. Its runways were also too short. In 1938, the idea for a new airport was born.
The area where Ferihegy stands was chosen. It was at the edge of three settlements. The airport was for civil military and sporting use. The airport’s design was put to a public tender.
Károly Dávid Jr.’s design won in 1939. He was a modern Hungarian architect. He envisioned a building like an aircraft from above. Construction began in 1942.
To reach the airport from Budapest a high-speed road was built. That road is still in use today. Military buildings were built quickly due to the war. Aviation at Ferihegy began in 1943. Civil construction slowed then stopped in 1944.
During World War II, many buildings were damaged. By the end of 1944, Budapest was under Soviet control. In 1947, reconstruction for civil aviation was decided. The opening ceremony was in May 1950.
The airport allowed Magyar-Szovjet Polgári Légiforgalmi Rt. to operate. This was a Hungarian-Soviet civil aviation company. At the time, flights were mainly to nearby countries. These countries included Prague Bucharest Warsaw and Sofia.
Magyar Légiforgalmi Vállalat or Malév was established in 1954. The first flight to the West was to Vienna in 1956. KLM was the first Western airline to fly to Budapest in 1957. The runway was extended to 3010 meters by 1958.
Between 1960 and its opening, the number of landings increased significantly. Passenger traffic also grew substantially. A study in 1965 planned for airport development.
By 1974, passenger traffic reached one million. A new control tower and a second runway were built. The new 3707-meter runway opened in 1983.
In 1980, aircraft landings and passengers served increased again. Terminal 2 was built to handle more passengers. It opened in 1985.
In 2005, BAA plc bought a 75% stake in Ferihegy Airport. In 2006, BAA planned to sell its stake.
In 2011, the airport’s name changed to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. Also that year, Sky Court opened. It connects Terminals 2A and 2B.
After Malév’s collapse in 2012, Ryanair expanded its flights. Liszt Ferenc Airport recovered much of its traffic quickly. However the airport lost transfer passengers.
In 2024, Ferihegy handled 17.6 million passengers. It is a hub for Wizz Air and a base for Ryanair.
Today, Ferihegy continues to evolve. It connects Budapest to the world. New projects are planned for its future.