Business 12 December 2023, 2:46pm

Hungary explores Qatar's role in Budapest Airport acquisition

Portfolio

The Hungarian government is trying to bring on board the Qatar Investment Authority as a member of a new consortium to purchase Budapest Airport, Minister of Economic Development Márton Nagy told Bloomberg on Tuesday. The politician also said that if the airport is acquired, it would be expanded with a third terminal.

Márton Nagy told Bloomberg that the acquisition of Budapest Airport is close to being finalized, but the signing of the deal could slip to 2024 as the price is still being negotiated between the buyers and the company's creditors.

It’s a very complex negotiation. The government is seeking to agree on a “competitive, market-based price," said Márton Nagy.

It had been previously revealed that the Hungarian government would buy the airport in partnership with French infrastructure management company Vinci, but the minister said that Qatari state investors could then also join as financial or strategic investors. And if the deal goes through,

there are plans to expand the airport with a third terminal.

Márton Nagy also said that Vinci is both an operator and a developer, so the synergies can be exploited. Viktor Orbán had earlier hinted at a business forum in Qatar that the government would welcome the country as an investor in Budapest Airport.