American Airlines will finally restart direct flights to Budapest from the U.S. in the spring of 2026, the airline has announced.
Bryan Leib, founder & CEO of Henry Public Relations and a senior fellow at Budapest’s Center for Fundamental Rights, was a strong advocate for such flights resuming and posted about the news on X.
“I’ve been notified that American Airlines will resume direct flights to Budapest starting in May 2026!!!,” he posted on his X account, calling the decision a “a major step forward for U.S.–Hungarian relations.”
🇺🇸🛫🇭🇺 I've been notified that @AmericanAir will resume direct flights to Budapest starting in May 2026!!! This is a major step forward for U.S.–Hungarian relations.
In my discussions with American Airlines leadership earlier this year, it was clear to me there was a strong… pic.twitter.com/JipXssmVS1
— Bryan E. Leib (@BryanLeibFL) August 7, 2025“In my discussions with American Airlines leadership earlier this year, it was clear to me there was a strong interest from them in deepening the economic and cultural ties between our two nations, and they understood how direct flights from a major U.S. carrier would make this possible,” he added, adding his congratulations to Economics Minister Márton Nagy and the staff of Budapest Airport.
Last November, Leib had called on major airlines to pick back up direct routes from the Hungarian capital and the U.S. to boost economic activity and tourism.
“U.S. airline carriers fly non-stop to scores of European cities on a daily and weekly basis but there are no such direct flights to/from Budapest, Hungary. I would like to see this change in 2025 to help increase trade and tourism!” he wrote at the time.
Hungary is one of six new routes American Airlines will be adding in 2026, with the only non-stop flight from the States to the CEE country taking off from its hub in Philadelphia. The other new direct destinations include Prague, Athens, Milan, Zurich (ZRH), and Buenos Aires.
Leib has been an ardent supporter of Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán and has pushed for relations between Hungary and the U.S. to thrive after years of being sidelined and demonized by Democratic administrations in the White House.
In January of this year, when Antal Rogán, the head of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, was placed on the U.S. sanctions list, he was vocal about the move being a biased and petty last move by outgoing Ambassador to Budapest, David Pressman, who sought constant conflict with Orbán and the Hungarian government.
“This is absurd and 100% politically motivated! I wouldn’t be surprised if Ambassador Pressman is behind this,” Leib had posted, adding that “America must stop meddling into the domestic affairs of our allies around the world and in particular, in Hungary.”
He then looked forward to the incoming Trump administration bringing friendlier relations with Hungary. As for Rogán, he was removed from the sanctions list in April.
As to Budapest Airport, traffic has been booming from both increased tourism and higher cargo business. At its current rate of growth, it anticipates needing far more space, especially as more and more tourists visiting the country are crowding out its cargo flights. Hungary is the number one hub for freight transport in the Central European region.
