Why the name?
Although Budapest Airport is now officially named after the celebrated Hungarian pianist and composer Franz Liszt, it was previously known as Ferihegy Airport – 'Feri' being the nickname for Ferenc, the Hungarian version of Franz. However, these two men called Ferenc aren't related. The airport's location in the Ferihegy area of the Pestszentlőrinc district actually takes its name from Xavér Ferenc Mayerffy, a friend of the influential Hungarian figure, István Széchenyi. This wealthy brewer and vineyard owner bought land in what's now Pestszentlőrinc and established vineyards there, leading to the area being called Ferihegy after him. Interestingly, there used to be a 147-metre-high sandy hill in the area, but it was flattened when the airport was constructed in the 1940s. While the area's name nods to Mayerffy, the airport itself was renamed in honour of the composer on 25th March 2011, marking the bicentenary of Franz Liszt's birth.
Hungary's pioneering wings
While Ferihegy is now the obvious location for Hungary's main airport, the very first international airport was actually in rural Mátyásföld. Although some civil aviation had taken place at Ferihegy, the tender for the airport we know today was announced in September 1939, following thorough research into wind patterns and fog. The gravelly soil and deep groundwater were advantageous for construction. Sadly, the partially built airport sustained significant damage during the Second World War, with reconstruction approved in 1947 and completed by 1950. Even recently, reminders of the war have surfaced, with two old bombs found in March during upgrades to Terminal 2's car park.
The terminal shaped like an aeroplane
The original Terminal 1 building, a listed monument designed before the Second World War by the esteemed Károly Dávid Jr., is quite distinctive. Dávid, who even spent time working at Le Corbusier's Paris office, came from a family of architects whose firm designed the port of Rijeka, among other projects. After the war, he designed industrial buildings and oversaw the planning of the People's Stadium. His Terminal 1 design is notable for its resemblance to an aeroplane when viewed from above. However, by the late 1970s, the airport had outgrown it, and it's been out of passenger use for years. Terminal 2 was completed in 1985, and recently, plans for Terminal 3 were announced.
For the price of a train ticket
Ferihegy Airport's history was intertwined for decades with Malév, Hungary's airline that operated from 1946 to 2012 with its base here. In the post-war years, domestic flights were initially introduced, proving popular partly because a government decree ensured their prices couldn't exceed first-class train tickets. Malév also launched the first international flight from Ferihegy in June 1956, with Vienna as the destination. At its peak, the airline had a presence in around 33 countries and carried over 3 million passengers annually.
A zoo at the airport
Ferihegy Airport even had its own zoo, once home to around 5,000 creatures, including exotic birds, a leopard, and a deer. These animals were either confiscated from smugglers or were local wildlife isolated to prevent aircraft interference. The zoo's existence was largely thanks to a security guard who was also an amateur zoologist and began caring for local animals. Eventually, a dedicated space was created for them. With over 200 buildings on the airport grounds, including a power plant and incinerator, the zoo, which closed in 2006, was certainly a unique feature.
+1 Voted the best in Europe
Earlier this year, Ferenc Liszt International Airport was named the best airport in Europe for the second time in the 15-25 million passenger category. This prestigious award, given by Airports Council International, is based on direct passenger feedback, making it one of the most respected honours in the industry.
(Cover photo: Polyák Attila – We Love Budapest)
