NEW BUDAPEST CEO OUTLINES AMBITIONS
BUDAPEST AIRPORT
Kam Jandu, the newly appointed CEO of Budapest Airport (BUD), Hungary, outlined his priorities for the airport's future during an exclusive interview with Routes Daily. Jandu, who previously served as the airport's chief commercial officer (CCO), expressed his commitment to route and traffic growth, meeting sustainability targets, and infrastructure development.
“The direction of the ship is stable—I will continue to focus on Budapest Airport's plans for route and traffic growth, on our sustainability targets, on the development of the airport's infrastructure, much needed to maintain quality, and on motivating our people,” Jandu said.
Having assumed the role on May 1, Jandu takes over from Chris Dinsdale, who has moved back to his native Canada to become the president and CEO of the Calgary Airport Authority.
Jandu came to aviation in the late-90s when he joined British Midland in sales and marketing, transitioning to Star Alliance’s Frankfurt headquarters in 2001, before coming to Budapest as aviation director in 2009, rising to CCO in 2014.
Jandu explained that the airport reached 12 million passengers in 2022, equivalent to that of 2016/17, and it will welcome some 14 million this year, before setting course to exceed the pre-pandemic levels of 16 million passengers in 2024.
“The real focus for growth at this time is long-haul—we had Toronto, New York, Chicago and American Airlines’ hub at Philadelphia before the pandemic and we’d obviously really like them back,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the other direction, Jandu reflects that BUD’s recovery in Asia has been strong. “We have three destinations in China, but we want the five cities that we had pre-pandemic, so we definitely see a strong desire for more long-haul, especially as it fits in well with off-peak use of facilities.”
Closer to home, Budapest Airport seeks to expand opportunities in France, Germany, Spain and the UK. Jandu's team has been actively working to establish routes to Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Glasgow and Newcastle. Despite challenges posed by Brexit, the UK remains Budapest Airport's largest market, with traffic recovering but yet to fully reach 2019 levels.
Aside from his role in aviation development, construction is set to become a major preoccupation for the incoming CEO. Terminal 1, which has been out of operation since 2012, is set to come back to operation in 2026 after the construction of a contemporary boarding pier. This will provide much-needed capacity prior to the construction of Terminal 3, where the first phase is intended to open in 2030 adjacent to Terminal 2 and SkyCourt.
However, Jandu added that Terminal 1’s reopening is not to be viewed as a stop-gap solution: “We’re spending over €100 million on bringing Terminal 1 back to life after all to serve over 4 million passengers compared to the two it served pre-closing so it will have a longer shelf life if needed, even after the so-called Terminal 3 is opened.”
Jandu acknowledged the expanded responsibilities that come with his role, but he is no stranger to multifaceted challenges. During his time as aviation director, he was also responsible for security, operations, and a workforce of 800 employees. His involvement in the conception and construction of SkyCourt and Pier 1 further equipped him with construction expertise.
Following Jandu’s promotion, Balázs Bogáts has been promoted to the position of CCO. Balázs’ 20-year aviation career included over a decade with Malév Airlines before he joined BUD in 2011, where he has served as the airline development director since 2022.
LONDON SOUTHEND
LONDON SOUTHEND “THE ONLY CREDIBLE ALTERNATIVE”
As the London market continues to fill up, London Southend Airport (SEN) is positioning itself as a “the only credible alternative” to the larger hubs.
“The London system is at about 94% seat capacity at the moment, compared with 2019, and is teetering close to a capacity cliff edge,” according to SEN business development director Nigel Mayes.
“London slots will be full at other airports soon, but if airlines act quickly then they can secure their growth at London Southend before faster-moving airlines have seized this opportunity.”
London Southend aims to serve the boroughs of east London, Essex and the wider Southeast region, boasting a catchment area of 8.2 million people. The airport recently struck a multiyear agreement with easyJet, positioning the airline as a potential anchor carrier for the airport in the future.
To cater to passenger demand, the LCC has added Amsterdam to its summer schedule from SEN, alongside seasonal leisure routes to Faro, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca.
“There are a number of wins in terms of the support that we can give carriers, not least of all this rare London market opportunity which includes real estate,” Mayes said. “We continually leverage our attractive London location and our unclaimed, wealthy catchment area, but I should also highlight airline efficiencies such as low airline operating costs, fastest taxiing times and our in-house handling operation.”
Mayes added that SEN’s purpose-built train station allows passengers to reach London Stratford in just 43 minutes and London Liverpool Street in a little over 50 minutes.
Earlier this year, parent company Esken announced plans to identify a buyer for the airport, saying it was seeking the right investor to accelerate growth. The airport said that despite the sale process, it continues to engage with airlines over routes that will allow them to operate profitably while serving the London and East of England catchment area.
Meet London Southend Airport at stand H20/22.
HERMES AIRPORTS
CYPRUS TARGETS SUSTAINED GROWTH
Larnaka (LCA) and Paphos (PFO) airports in Cyprus have witnessed a swift rebound in passenger traffic, setting a solid foundation for sustained growth, according to Maria Kouroupi, senior manager aviation development, marketing and communication at Hermes Airports.
With concerted efforts to expand market reach, the airports have successfully replaced the markets of Russia and Ukraine, accounting for 20% of total passenger traffic, by penetrating already served markets such as Poland, Greece, Germany, Israel, Armenia, France and Italy.
Both Larnaka and Paphos reported a record-breaking performance in the first quarter of 2023, with a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2019. Currently, the airports are served by 55 airlines operating 155 routes to 38 countries.
"We have been proactive in handling the surge in traveler numbers, particularly during the busy summer period of 2022, without any operational issues, setting us apart from other European airports,” said Kouroupi. “This success is a result of effective coordination and collaboration within the entire airport community.”
Looking ahead, Hermes Airports has formulated an action plan to maintain and enhance its level of service, aiming to provide an even better experience for both airlines and passengers. The ultimate goal is to reach the pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels of 11.3 million in 2019.
At Routes Europe 2023, Kouroupi said the company is seeking to enhance its winter operation and identifying opportunities for penetration into new markets. “In addition, we are eager to discuss the benefits of promoting year-round destination operation for Cyprus, which will support sustainable growth and development of the tourism product,” she added.
Meet Hermes Airports at stand A32.
RHODE ISLAND EYES TRANSATLANTIC LINK
Rhode Island Airport Corp. is actively pursuing its ambition to increase international connectivity and establish transatlantic routes from the US airport.
Breeze Airways recently established its base of operations at Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD), leading to significant growth in nonstop routes. In just two years, Breeze has expanded PVD to 12 nonstop destinations, including previously unserved routes such as the first-ever nonstop flight to Los Angeles.
Looking ahead, Breeze has plans to offer more than 20 nonstop routes from PVD, base up to eight aircraft at the airport, and create 200 jobs for pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics.
In the short term, Rhode Island Airport Corp.'s focus is on the complete recovery of passenger numbers to 2019 levels. To achieve this, an air service marketing campaign is underway to attract more passengers to existing flights and increase load factors for airlines.
The airport is also engaged in discussions with prospective airlines to expand route options, aiming to encourage local passengers to choose PVD over other airports and facilitate inbound visitors to the region, thus driving tourism growth in the state.
Looking ahead, the corporation aims to enhance international connectivity from PVD, targeting popular leisure and VFR destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and reinstating transatlantic routes to Europe.
“Our goal in attending Routes Europe is to introduce the airport and our vibrant home region of Rhode Island and southern New England to new European audiences, present compelling data about the viability of direct air links to Europe and to continue the dialogue with those air carriers that have already indicated interest in the past,” said Markus Berger, assistant vice president, air service development.
Meet Rhode Island Airport Corporation at stand H40.
