Following a change in ownership last year, Budapest Airport is seeking to dramatically expand its passenger traffic, aiming to welcome 20 million travellers by 2030 and 35 million by 2040. The Hungarian capital currently offers flights to 136 destinations, but that number will need to rise to meet such ambitious goals. This means new airlines will have to enter the market, and there’s no shortage of interested carriers. If all goes according to plan, travellers may soon be flying from Budapest to an exotic new country.

Direct flights from Budapest Airport to exotic destination may launch soon

According to Budflyer, a Facebook page focused on aviation, Omani budget airline SalamAir has expressed interest in launching service to Hungary. In a recent interview, SalamAir CEO Adrian Hamilton-Manns discussed plans for strategic expansion that include Budapest. The airline is also eyeing Prague in the same region, as well as Tashkent, Chengdu, Almaty, and Astana in Asia.

The Hungarian government has regularly advocated for more direct flights linking Budapest with Eastern destinations, though many of these routes struggle to remain viable due to low passenger numbers. Still, officials continue to push for a Muscat-Budapest route—at least from a diplomatic standpoint.

• Good news: Popular and exotic Ryanair destination from Budapest returns

Charter services between Hungary and Oman have been operating successfully since 2023, according to Budflyer. These flights are run not by SalamAir but by Smartwings, the largest private airline in the Czech Republic. Notably, they fly to Salalah rather than to the Omani capital, Muscat, and the 2024 season reportedly closed on a high note. For now, travelling to Oman without using a charter flight remains both complicated—requiring at least one layover—and expensive.

• Read HERE the Budapest Airport summer travel season guide.

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