The local councils that own the FlyBalaton airport in southwest Hungary are looking for a new operator, Vendel Szabo, the mayor of Sarmellek, where the airport is located, confirmed for MTI on Wednesday.
Talks on operating the airport are underway with domestic and foreign investors who have already submitted offers to buy and rent the airport, Mr Szabo said. The talks are expected to finish by October, he added.
Just 1,516 passengers used the airport in January-July, a fraction of the 27,600 in the same period a year earlier.
In 2004, the local councils signed a 99-year lease for the airport with Cape Clear Aviation, a company owned by Irish investors. The company temporarily closed the airport at the end of November after Ryanair pulled its London flight from the winter timetable, but reopened it at the beginning of April.
The local councils of Heviz, Keszthely and Zalakaros, together with hotels and tourism companies in the region, pooled together HUF 30m to support the reopening.
I am not surprised at the passenger slump. With no flights to the UK we are having to go to Budapest, Grats or Bratislava. The other option that our visitors are taking is not to come and visit as the option of the other airports are to much hassle
Waz
I agree, until flights start agin to the UK this airport is useless and will close permanantly eventually.
Lets hope the airport is keeping talks going with RyanAir or anyone else who may fly the London to Balaton route in the future.
Fuel costs have come down a bit & it may one day be economic for someone to re-start the flights. Lets face it though, the ‘Balaton’ Hungarans business interests have to take 90% of the blame. When the flights were running at two thirds full, the Hungarians spent nothing on marketing the Balaton as a destination for London holiday makers.
Most in London still don’t know of the regions charms.
Those whining British fools, let them stay at home if they don’t like it here.Crying Mama’s boys and girls… how very pathethic.Only from the Bloody British, no doubt.
“those whining British fools”
I love how some retard can take an article and invent something to suit their own agenda.
We “British” aren’t whining about anything at all, nor does this article state that we are.
Considering your internal demand went down the shitter, I’d suggest you buck up your bloody ideas and start promoting Balaton to people from overseas a bit more.
But you’re not interested in that are you? you just want to spout your idiotic Jobbik-esque xenophobia.
Oliver Twist, listen if you really want to fly from Sherwood Florest to Lake Balaton, stop your Bloody British whining and take a fricking bus or lorry instead.You must be new here.This Balaton Airport saga brouhaha has been going on here for many months, in different articles, not just this one.
BTW, Oliver of the Sherwood Forest, there was never much of an “internal demand” for Balaton Airport, because Hungarians don’t normally fly widebody commercial aviation aircraft between Balaton and Budapest, for example.Duuuh.
FInally, regarding the Jobbik Party, I guess some of the foreign ‘missionaries’ temporarily residing in Hungary for Allah only knows what for are going to be getting their walking papers real soon, hmmm?
Me is stupid, not understand Anonymous splendid comment…
My partner and I also used the Sarmellek airport to fly to London for a holiday and I’m still hoping for its reopening, so some members of my family can visit us, but we will have to see
Oliver—’I love how some retard can….invent something to suit their own agenda’ You mean like your mentioning Jobbik in an article about an airport? LOL
Yeah, it seems like our miserable Oliver Twist is already blaming the Jobbik Party for the fact the Ryanair stopped flying into FlyBalaton Airport a while ago.He is so fair and impartial about it, too.
As soon as an airline will calculate it to be profitable to fly in and out of FlyBalaton, it shall happen.Not before.But usually an airline cannot be forced by an airport to fly there.The airline would want to do this entirely on its own.
I would not hold out much hope for a direct connection to Britain, however.If anyone can do it, then the cash-laden Russians or Chinese might be made interested in “serving” FlyBalaton.
If Anonymous & others don’t want the tourist trade to succeed, why don’t they just say so.
They & their Jobbik friends do not want Hungary to prosper. It is only in a cesspit of poverty & ignorance that their unpleasant nationalist nonsense will be supported by more than the european standard 6% of nationalist nutters.
Just as with Spain in the past, tourists could bring huge wealth to the Balaton if only it were promoted as a destination. Fly Balaton must be an important part of that future.
“Lake Balaton…our sea.” Don’t think so – the place is a swamp so why go there?
FlyBalaton another commercial disaster because of
Ryanair’s business approach and poor administration
from the airport owners. Jobbik, reds under the bed, have had nothing to do with it.
Lake Balaton is a very good vacation spot. Needs to be upgraded/updated – but will it?
Wizzair should be given the contract if new owners are appointed. I guarantee they will make a success of it.
Geza, you could clearly be a misguided Zionist?? AND/OR Communist?? saboteur. Is that even legal in Hungary, I wonder? Why do you state something so brutally stupid that a Hungarian national party with the agenda of protecting Hungary’s own interests is sabotaging the tourist trade and is aiming to udnermine the ‘national interest?’
I suppose in your book, the present Commie leadership under Fuehrer Bajnai is doing a splendid job for the long-term interests of Hungary? According to WHOM? Cetainly not according to the people of Hungary who are constantly being polled about it. They hate the present kleptomaniac imbecile bunch with a passion.
And if some so-called ‘Hungarians’ and foreigners don’t feel comfy in Hungary, let them go someplace else to chill, I say. Permanently. Who needs to hear their whining kind from morning ’till night, after all?
I agree with you Fantron about “moaning minnies”
of whatever persuasion. They should be sent to Siberia to mine salt! (If there’s any left?)
Early elections are not likely and that means Hungary will remain in a state of flux for a while yet.
I believe FlyBalaton with the right airlines, and management can be made a success. And so can the Lake Balaton area, generally.
Corrupt commie cranks (MSZP) will only impede
the process or progress of any talks on the ways and means of resurrecting the airport at Balaton.
Well now that everyone has said their 2pennyworth about fly balaton airport, lets get a few things into order here.
Firstly (and do not be fooled) Balaton is a fantastic place, culture, food, fishing, spas, beauty centres, cosmetic surgery, golfing..etc etc This is what you call infrastructure and is the basis of one of the most up and coming EU members.
For all you who feel that its not then please take a weekend trip to Budapest and enjoy one of the best cities in the world.
So far as Fly Balaton airport is concerned..Yes Hungary does indeed need that airport and yes it should be opened to international flights. Its all a question of logistics so please do not blame Ryanair, they are a business after all and they well may be looking to having another go..but they are not the only airline and there are plenty others who should be looking to invest in what is clear cut good future economics for them. In reality Hungary as a whole in my opinion is one of the best favoured hotspots for future investment and tourism and Lake Balaton is one of the best tourist resorts in Europe.
For all you die hards who like to get off a plane and drive 5 minutes to your holiday home then go ahead and invest elsewhere, i personally do not care if it takes me 2and half hours from Budapest.I am living in paradise after all.
@mario: Thanks for your comments!
We really hope that some people share your ideas about further developing the Balaton area and that FlyBalaton will open agaon soon.
Wouldn’t it have been better for tourism if the FlyBalaton airport was closer to Budapest. Personally, I think a 2 hour drive to Budapest is too long. I doubt there would be much foreign tourists wanting to visit Balaton in winter. If the airport was closer to the other end (eg Siofok) , visitors to Hungary would have the options of going towards Budapest in winter, or south to their holiday homes in summer.
@George: You are right about not too many tourists at the Balaton in winter, but Heviz for example is open all year round (and only 10 km from Sarmellek).
Also to have another airport in closer proximity to Budapest does not make much economic sense.
Actuall when we are thinking of going on holiday, we consider mainly the Graz and Vienna airports, because they are easier to reach for us from Heviz than Ferihegy. Abd I think we are nort the only ones living in Western Hungary who board a plane to some nice and warm winter destination…
Mario, mostly I agree with you about Balaton –
there is a lot there to do – but traditionally it
has been woefully marketed. Woefully.
This
year I saw – for the first time – some excellent
marketing in the form of the Funzine magazines
(produced by a private organization in conjunction
with tourist board) – in a whole different class
than what the Magyar Tourism has in the past
produced.
Attracting tourism to the Balaton
has a number of problems. To take just a few: (a)
abroad, outside of German-speakers, it is hardly
known at all (b) the German-speaking market has
been in decline for 20 years (c) the season is 2-3
months in most of the Balaton making it near
impossible for many enterprises to make a profit.
I’ve observed a continual decline in most of
the tourism enterprises around the Balaton in the
last 10 years. Most of the bigger investment was
in the nineties, and now the market is getting so
bad, most of those enterprises are not making any
further investment, with many selling up and
getting out where they can. There are some
notable exceptions to this but in general
standards have gone down and prices up over the
years. There is very little effort or investment
to upgrade facilities and services, and minimal
effort to attract year-round trade or develop
foreign markets.
Personally, I think it’s a
real pity because I like the Balaton area but have
concluded a long time ago that marketing is an
area where Hungary falls down very badly.
@Wolfi – I’m not sure that having an airport closer to the other end of the lake reduces the economic spin-offs to Hungary. I agree it doesn’t quite serve the needs of the people in Western Hungary (who already have Graz/Vienna as alternatives). However, I feel that having a low-cost airport closer to Budapest
a. helps bring more people to Hungary, and also helps in promoting awareness of the Balaton region
b. allows the towns in that part to consolidate their infrastructure development(& promotion) to offer activities in winter (there is always the added options of offering trips to Budapest from there). Hotels, bus-lines, restaurants, rental cars, shopping and other tourist features can be easier developed if it is concentrated within a small sector offering more alternatives. I think the sheer numbers of visitors which Ryanair could bring would make a difference. While Heviz is viable in winter, I think it is an exception.
As Benny said, the Balaton tourist infrastructure has been stagnating due to poor effort to enhance the winter attractiveness, with even the Germans speakers reducing their visits. I’m doubtful that non-German visitors are as keen on the current Balaton attractions. Also, I think other Hungarians (also from Budapest) would also use the airport as an alternative to Ferihegy if flights were cheap. I once paid Euro2 (25 in total) to fly to London from Graz on Ryanair. If such tickets existed here, I’d gladly travel to Siofok.
@George:
Well, at the end it all comes down to economics, in this case numbers: How many passengers would be needed and where to get them from ?
On the other hand: Letting an existing infrastructure like FlyBalaton just rot away seems rather crazy to me…
We all don’t really know or rather can predict how many travellers will have the money to fly to which destinations.
I know that I will make use of the existing facilities, for example to get to London where my sister lives: I’ll take my car to Vienna airport and leave it there for a few days.
For other people that might not be an economic alternative. So we will just have to wait and see…
Like i said, Hungary, especially Balaton has the infrastructure needed and yes, you guys are correct when you have noticed a complete non marketing by the authorities. I feel that they are still living in the sixties and either do not know any better or really do not know how to promote themselves. So we really need to get it together and help and advertise this land because it offers so much, not only for families in the summer but also for the joy of winter where there is so much to do and see(bar the cold weather….so what!)
Let me tell you something, i am not Hungarian and cannot speak a word of it (yet).
I had lived in a what was considered an undiscovered part of Italy for the last 10 years and because ryanair decided to fly there how things have changed in that time, eg: no more pot holes on dual carriageways and a better infrastructure on all the towns and cities nearby…this is due to good marketing, the investment of foreigners and the bargain flights that ryanair have offered.
Yet the area still in my opinion does not compare with what Balaton has to offer.
So come on Ryanair or wizzair or easyjet etc, give us the route to Balaton and the area will become another success story bringing wealth and prosperity to both the airlines and to those who wish to to live this beautiful area.
Two years of frustration trying to get the Hungarian Tourist Board to get off their arses and
do something objective. Not only to promote Lake Balaton,but Hungary in general, as well.
No motivation and poor pay and, historically speaking, only dimwits are employed at Tourist
organizations.
Badly-run hotels, poor facilities, transportation problems, and a general decline in the resorts around the lake all contribute to the woeful story, and FlyBalaton is another casualty on the list.
Local councils and get-rich-quick investors are a poor substitute for carefully-thought-out plans to revive Balaton and the rest of Hungary.
Benny my dear Dwarf you are correct in your last posting in what you say.
The general demise is widespread and until someone like a Petöfi Sandor
stands up and shouts the message loud and clear that every Hungarian needs to do something to halt the current slump we will all end up in the proverbial S H (ONE) T!
John and Mario appear to have 2 opposing views as to Balaton’s attractiveness and infrastructure. While Hungarians want to believe it is a key attraction in Europe (for them it may be due to distance and convenience), anyone flying to Balaton from elsewhere in Europe will inevitably compare it to what they can get elsewhere for the same money.
Realistically, what attractions does the Balaton area have for a tourist who flies in specifically during the winter time. Are these isolated spots which you have to seek out, or is there a cluster of towns which offer something interesting. I’m just curious.
@Wolfi- unfortunately, I’ve seen so much infrastructure decay and become commercially unviable (esp in Russia, and other CIS countries), but I’m sure you’ve also seen some of this in the eastern part of Germany.
Well for Curious George we can look to other European countries and ask the same question.ie: what would you do on the Costa Brava, Majorca, the Algarve in winter??? Catch a few rays of sunshine perhaps or walk along the beach?
Can walk along the beach at Balaton, do a bit of fishing, take advantage of the wonderful spa’s and perhaps play a round of golf….sorry, don’t mean to sound sarcastic but i do not see any differences bar the fact that other places in Europe have become more established over the last few decades but even so..have you ever been to Majorca between November-April? Yes there is still night life if you can call it that but its only there because it needs to accommodate its tourism.
All i can say and without prejudice is that i would sooner rather be in Balaton and enjoy what it has to offer at the moment…Its time will come when it will join the others be it next year or in ten years time…but it will happen.
@Mario – not trying to knock Balaton, but that was precisely my point. The other places you named also have difficulties in attracting people in winter which is why they need to ‘manufacture’ the nightlife.
Tourists in winter will weigh their option of visiting Balaton, against other options they have like going to winter resorts for skiing, visiting other cities in Europe with Xmas or end of year celebrations, or simply flying further south to the Greece, Turkey etc for culture, weather. So, visiting Balaton and settling for walking along the frozen(?) beach, or fishing may appeal to some, but I think most people could find places closer to home to do that. Somehow, I think more Europeans would opt for Budapest over Balaton in winter.
Hence, there is a need not just for promotion, but also for Balaton to ‘develop’ some winter attractions to make it offer as much value as other places which it may not see as direct competitors. Only when there is a critical mass of passengers could there be an economic justification for operating an airport.
Which is why Fly Balaton must open eventualy. It would be hard justice to scrap such a well positioned airport. I just hope the guy’s concerned see this as an economic upturn rather than trying to save money now and not making the area prosperous in the future…This would be bad politics to say the least and they would be dimwits not to realise the scope of the area. If they turn their backs then they deserve a good kick up the……
Balaton has trouble attracting visitors in summer, never mind winter. The Germans are no longer coming. Check out Siofok, Balatonfured, etc. Empty shops, empty hotels, empty restaurants.
The comparatively new golf course at Balatonudvari never quite made it in terms of patronage. In a beautiful setting and a good course but, oh dear, once again – poor marketing and admin means it remains in trouble, I think, financially speaking.
Another washout along with the FlyBalaton fiasco.
Lake Balaton was very popular in the 1960s. Trouble is, the resorts have not kept pace with the times and many have been neglected to the extent that they can be classed as shit-holes.
Business strategies and methods in Hungary are certainly “quaint”…and need a complete overhaul to bring them screaming into the 21st century.
@Balazonbob: That’s only partially true. The East Germans who whould take any rooms , as long as they were cheap, do no longer exist. Here in Heviz the hotels are not complaining, but the cheap apartments are empty most (or all) of the year. People now expect more, as you observe, and for that money has to be imvested.
Many of my friends come regularly to stay with me or in a hotel in Heviz, because there they get all kinds of wellness programs at a really good price combined with excellent service…
I can tell them to which hairdresser or cosmetics studio to go, where they find a good massage or a special restaurant – which also is much cheaper than in Germany, and so on…
Quality is the key word…
Balaton bob. The whole truth is there are not many visitors in summer or winter because there are no airlines flying into Balaton.
If you look at statistics, when Ryanair flew in for that very short period Balaton woke up from the 1960s and all of a sudden it was inundated with curious Brits and other europeans, a large majority which i must add looking for investment.
Can you immagine if those flights had continued how much more needed cash would have become available for the area to pick up. In other words the overhaul you are talking about would have been possible in a very short space of time. This is why Fly Balaton must re-open for the sake of the areas people and businesses future growth.
@mario, you’ve kinda of hit the nail on the head.
It’s a chicken and egg thing, and Ryanair knows
it. That’s why they demand and often get
incredible deals from airports (although the deals
are usually heavily in the favour of Ryanair).
Having an airline fly in will bring a lot of
visitors who otherwise wouldn’t go to a place at
all, probably wouldn’t even know about it. The
problem is that to attract Ryanair (or similar
airlines) back to Sarmellek, on the basic of what
already happened, is not a commercial proposition
for the airport – so only government investment to
support the region’s airport would support this.
I’m not sure about legality of that though, there
have been legal cases over subsidies offered to
low-cost airlines like Ryanair elsewhere in
Europe.
But to change the focus a bit… tourists can also
be attracted through the Budapest gateway to the
rest of the country but I don’t see this really
happening like it does in other countries. Figures
over recent years (reported on realdeal or sister
sites) showed increase in hotel nights but
decrease in length of stay – which suggests less
visitors touring around the country and more
coming on weekend breaks in Budapest. This is only
my guess but I reckon that the tour busses that
bring visitors around the country don’t focus a
lot on the Balaton.
Well done Benny, im glad that you you see the stategy as a way forward for the Balaton area.
Do not be fooled in thinking Ryanair have completely forgotton about Balaton, They are good business people and they will always strike whilst everything is in their favour except that they may be beat to the post as the likes of Wizzair are hot on their tails…dont forget the GP MOTOR RACE in September…huge crowds…If i was an airline id snap up Balaton now!!! Of course all the airlines know this and its a matter of wait and see.
I can only summise what i have written in the past….Balaton will be on the map sooner rather than later. Its a fabulous place which will draw foreign investment and it will once again enjoy its tourism as it so rightfully and justifyably deserves.
Mario, wolfi,
While I personally like the Balaton, IMO there is
little or no chance that the infrastructure will
improve anywhere in the forseeable future and make
it a popular destination (outside Germans speakers,
and outside Summer). Maybe an airline will fly into
Sarmellek again someday, and I’d welcome that, but
that on it’s own will not turn around many years of
decline.
@Benny:
Lufthans had three or four planes flying to Sarmellek each saturday this summer, bringing about 15.000 people in, that’s at least more than nothing…
Now we just wait for 2010…
Benny you astute Dwarf! The problems associated with Lake Balaton as tourist resort are symptomatic of the problems in Hungary generally.
Ryanair can fuck off. Give the contract to Wizzair. Get some competent administrators at FlyBalaton, organise some regular flights to and from the UK and watch the progress!
Cosmetic tourism (teeth,wellness,clinics etc) is
big business. Hungary excels in these areas. Trouble is, it also excels in corruption,crazy bureaucratic practices and has a government whose incompetency is unsurpassed.
Well said Zöldseg. Now lets get on and support Hungary together and achieve these goals which have eluded them for so many years.
I have never understood why the Hungarian Tourist Board does absolutly nothing to promote this country to the rest of the world, dont they realise how much they have to offer the tourist especially the ones who are looking for something different to France Spain etc. It isnt as tho they cant make promotional videos they can ive sat and watched them at Budapest airport but I cant for the life of me see the reasoning behind showing them there. Get them on Western television after all if Albania can advertise their country as a holiday destination on British television what on earth is wrong with the Hungarians doing the same. People say the Germans are leaving so what! to me this is even more reason to get of their backsides and get this country promoted as a fantastic holiday destination it is – tourists wont come if they dont know whats here.
Dont forget it isnt just tourists that want to come here via Balaton Airport. I and many others have family and friends who would love to come during Christmas not to see so called tourist attractions but just to spend time together.
For new inf on Fly Balaton look at this newer thread:
http://www.realdeal.hu/20100108/airport-near-lake-balaton-to-reopen-in-spring#c7
“The Irish owners of FlyBalaton Airport aim to implement the best practices to enhance the service level of tourism-related businesses in Western Hungary, Lake Balaton region and in the neighbouring spa towns built on excellent thermal water. It is our common goal to work together, to support each other so that all parties may benefit from this co-operation.”
“‘It is a great pleasure for the Irish owners to see that the hardships faced due to the economic crisis made all stakeholders work together more closely for a common aim. Local businesses have already seen the benefits of economic synergies, and this may open new and wider business perspectives in the coming years.”
Yes – and look what has happened. An Irish airline -Ryanair and an Irish admin co. CAA. The place is now closed and in ruin!?
@flybynight:
I don’t know what kind of trouble developed between those two Irish companies – probably it was just a financial thing, Ryanair could make more money somewhere else …