Hungary Airlines: new aircraft, new routes and stable outlook – promising year ahead for the Hungarian airline

Hungary Airlines’ Chief Operating Officer Gábor Talabos shared the company’s achievements and future plans in an interview with Közlekedésvilág. The focus of 2025 is to establish long-term stability, as the young Hungarian airline continues breaking records and prepares for significant expansion.

New branding, new aircraft, growing fleet

The airline’s first aircraft featuring its own livery—a Boeing 777 300 ERSF freighter—is expected to arrive in Budapest in the third quarter, according to the interview. The plane will operate under a Maltese registration in cooperation with a European operator. The first conversion of this aircraft type began four years ago. While the plane could have taken off last year, international certification hurdles and geopolitical challenges delayed the rollout.

Record load factors and on-time performance

The airline currently operates four weekly flights between China and Hungary—primarily from Hong Kong—and is considering the launch of a fifth. In June, the average load on its Airbus A330F aircraft was 66,300 kg, just shy of the maximum 67,800 kg capacity.

The airline’s schedule performance has been exemplary: over the past two months, flights operated with 100% on-time accuracy and no cancellations. In May, the aircraft logged an average of 15.8 flight hours per day—a testament to strong operational readiness, especially from maintenance partner Aeroplex.

China, the U.S., and new destinations in sight for Hungary Airlines

The airline’s next potential destination in mainland China is Zhengzhou, pending regulatory approval, with Hangzhou also under consideration. While its current licenses cover Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, management is also monitoring market opportunities in the Indian subcontinent and certain regions of Africa.