Direct flights between Hungary and the United States to resume

We have been working intensively in recent months to re-establish direct air connections between Hungary and the United States,

the post stated.

The route will operate daily between 21 May and 5 October 2026, connecting Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport with Philadelphia International Airport. According to Budapest Airport, the 234-seat Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft will depart Budapest at 11:25 local time, arriving in Philadelphia at 15:00, while the return flight will depart from the American city at 18:50, landing in the Hungarian capital at 09:25 the next morning. The aircraft will offer business, premium economy and economy class services.

Since the state's acquisition of Budapest Airport, establishing long-haul flights from Budapest has been a stated objective. While there are already scheduled flights to several Chinese cities, the government aimed to add American destinations, planning to leverage the connections of co-owner Vinci.

Since Malév's bankruptcy, scheduled American flights from Budapest have only operated periodically. American Airlines previously operated flights to Philadelphia for one season in summer 2018, while LOT operated services to New York and Chicago between 2018 and 2020.

"Today's announcement is an important milestone, but not the final goal," Márton Nagy added in his post, suggesting the possibility of additional route announcements.

American Airlines announced several new long-haul routes today, including services from Philadelphia to Prague, Dallas to Athens, Miami to Milan, and Dallas to Zurich for the upcoming football World Cup, as FIFA's headquarters are located in the Swiss city. According to CNBC, American airlines are experiencing declining domestic travel while international traffic increases. In the most recent quarter, domestic air traffic decreased while transatlantic routes saw a 5% growth, prompting American Airlines to respond with these new long-haul routes.

Cover photo (for illustration purposes only): Getty Images