Budapest, Xi’an Xianyang airports agree to cooperate

   Budapest Airport officials said they have stepped up efforts to become a major distribution and logistics base for China in the Central and Eastern European region by signing a cooperation agreement with Xi’an Xianyang International Airport.
   The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed during the recent Belt and Road Forum in Beijing and will highlight Budapest Airport in China as a prime gateway to Central and Southeastern Europe, according to an announcement from Budapest Airport.
   “Strong economic cooperation is only possible between two countries if they are well-connected, which is why aviation connections through direct flights between Hungary and China are of key importance,” said Péter Szijjártó (pictured above center), minister of foreign affairs and trade for Hungary.
   Budapest Airport also will sign an MoU with Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in May during a planned Chinese delegation visit to Budapest to further strengthen aviation links between Hungary and China.
   Jost Lammers, Budapest Airport chief executive officer, said, “Zhengzhou, Xi’an and Budapest share a great dynamic of growth, and we are very confident that we can mutually benefit from this cooperation.”
   The airport’s announcement said the support of Hungarian diplomats and trade promotion experts has helped Budapest Airport to double the weekly capacity of direct cargo flights between Budapest, Hong Kong and Zhengzhou and to enhance the belly cargo links on board scheduled Air China passenger flights between Beijing and Budapest.
   Since the beginning of April, Cargolux has been operating two additional direct cargo flights per week between Zhengzhou, one of the fastest growing airports in the world, and Budapest, airport officials said.