Running for patients with heart disease *** Airport Birds Land in Hortobágy *** Road developments at Terminal 2 *** Budapest Airport-SSP: World-class food and beverage offer! *** Size Matters: Qatar flying to BUD with increased capacity *** Budapest Airport turns to the Constitutional Court over land tax *** Juventus Morning from SkyCourt *** ’Ferihegy Station’ Discount Parking *** Coupon promotion and fan restaurants during Olympics
Running for patients with heart disease
Budapest Airport will also be represented at this year’s New York City Marathon (4th November 2012).
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Kam has already established a separate club on Facebook, also accessible from Budapest Airport’s Facebook page, in connection with the event due to be held in November. Thus, those who ‘like’ Budapest Airport can also follow the charity initiative lasting several months. Kam will regularly update his page with the latest news and the status of his preparations, and it will take just a click to join the increasing number of supporters. In parallel with tracking Kam’s preparations, it is also possible to sign up for the charity initiative. (This is a quite a usual feature of the world’s major marathon’s like London, New York and others) Kam’s page collecting donations in connection with the New York City Marathon is already accessible on JustGiving, a fundraising website specializing in collecting pecuniary and other donations online, which provides various ways of sending donations to the two foundations aiming to help cardiac patients.
Donations offered on the English and Hungarian language pages of JustGiving will be used to support the Hungarian Heart Diseases Children’s Hospital and the British Heart Foundation. The aim is to raise as much money as possible for each of the two foundations. The initiative will last until the start of the New York City Marathon in November. It is possible to make pecuniary and other donations through an online credit card transaction, via PayPal or even by text message. It is important to note that the technical solution required to collect donations for the Hungarian foundation is expected to be in place in the coming weeks. Until then, donations can already be offered in several different ways, as described on the website.
Budapest Airport fully supports Kam’s initiative as a company committed to corporate social responsibility and promoting healthy way of life as shown by numerous previous projects of this nature. Two years ago, five executives joined a charity initiative and collected donations for a bone marrow transplant with a 10 km airport run. In addition, Budapest Airport has provided support running into hundreds of millions of forints for neighboring municipalities and communities. Most recently, the company made a significant donation to the Department of Aircraft and Ships at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, which is a clear indication that even at a time of crisis, the airport operator still considers the various forms of corporate social responsibility to be important. Budapest Airport worked out a comprehensive strategy for responsible operation, also earmarking significant funds for such purposes, but due to the bankruptcy of Malév and the disproportionately large increase in land tax, it has been forced to review and temporarily suspend its donation policy.
“We are happy to support Kam’s efforts, because as a responsible company we believe it is important to support worthy causes, even under today’s difficult economic climate,” commented Jost Lammers, the CEO of Budapest Airport.
“Heart disease affects nearly everyone one way or another, if for no other reason, then because we all have family members or friends fighting such health problems. Unfortunately this has been the case with my family and myself as well during the past four years, which is one of the reasons why I decided to support this cause.” added aviation director Kam Jandu. “I am very hopeful that out of the more than 10 000 people who follow Budapest Airport, many more will join the initiative, whereby we can save lives together.”
Airport Birds Land in Hortobágy
In the past few weeks 22 kestrel nestlings were captured by BUD Airside Management team with the help of bird protection experts in order to relocate them to a safer place: the Hortobágy National Park.
The action of nature conservation was needed mainly because of airport safety. Birds of prey hunting in the airside of the airport are a risk for aeroplanes. A bird strike can result in a damage of millions of dollars or even a tragedy; therefore airports worldwide apply wildlife protection systems in order to avoid airplanes striking with birds and other wildlife.
Budapest Airport applies more than ten different wildlife protection technologies. Most of them mean to keep birds away from runways with the help of different techniques. One technique is the use of trained falcons to scare birds away such as starlings, magpies or crows. A special car also patrols the airport’s safety zone and plays the birds distress & alarm sounds so loud that it harasses settled birds away.
The most effective, nevertheless the most eco-friendly way of bird protection is the capturing of kestrels and magpies which nest in the area of the airport and transporting them to a faraway safe place. The best time is early summer as kestrels start their life outside the nest in July and at first they are very clumsy, hardly have any flying experience, obtaining food becomes independent from parental care and in addition they have no local knowledge which makes them victims of accidents much more easily.
Identification rings have been placed on the legs of the relocated nestlings by the staff of Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society in order to observe them later on. Young birds are given aluminium colourful rings with higher and more characters than the traditional ones to ensure individual recognition. After the capturing and ringing of the birds they are relocated to Hortobágy National Park Gores Bird Rescue Site where experts of the National Park will help them to prepare for free life and let them free.
Zoltan Ormandi Head of Airside at Budapest Airport emphasized: ‘At the airport we mainly have to protect birds that fly with kerosene from the wildlife, although we have always been doing so in a way to protect wildlife as well as air safety’. He added: ’We are very pleased that the birds born in the area of Budapest Airport will be in good hands and grow up safely in the care of the experts of Hortobágy National Park.’
‘Hortobágy is an excellent habitat for red kestrel, we hope that after regaining their freedom they will enjoy their new home’ - said Gábor Tihanyi, Deputy Head of Security Service at Hortobágy National Park Nature Reserve. ‘The key task of the Hortobágy National Park is to ensure optimal living conditions and to safeguard the habitats of protected and highly protected birds, therefore we are pleased to participate for the second year in a joint bird rescue action with Budapest Airport’ - he added.
The relocation of small animals is not a unique phenomenon at the airport: BUD also organizes regular souslik saving actions. The protected rodents (incidentally which are the favourite delicacy of certain birds of prey) are given a new and safe home in the grassy areas of Pilis Park Forest Co.
Road developments at Terminal 2
Budapest Airport’s access system at Terminal 2 will be completely renewed in a few weeks’ time, as soon as the reconstruction works have been completed.
The new system for the curbside following a complete transformation is expected to go live at Budapest Airport in the coming summer weeks. This will also affect access to Terminal 2 for passenger vehicles. It is good news for drivers that one of the most important changes involves re-opening one of the roads on the arrivals level to public traffic. Thus, after nearly three years it will again be possible picking up arriving passengers by car at the same level of the arrivals terminal. Another new feature is an access control system of barriers that is currently under construction on the curbside bridge leading to the arrivals and departure levels of the terminal.
With the installation of the access control system and the parking structure to be introduced in parallel, the throughput of the road network leading to the terminal entrances could increase significantly. Similarly to many other airports in Europe, parking in the immediate vicinity of the terminal will essentially cease and will be subject to significant restrictions, which means that it will only be worth stopping there for passenger drop-off and pickup. This service, called the Premium Car Park, will be available for motorists free of charge for 5 minutes, but thereafter they will only be able to leave the departure or the arrivals level if they pay the applicable fee.
The other option if someone would like to escort the passenger into the terminal building or wait for them at the exit of the transit area is to use the Terminal Car Park (currently the short stay car park), located in the middle only 25 meters from the entrance to the terminal building. The gist of the concept is therefore that if drivers would like to park their cars, they can do this primarily at the car park below, leaving space in the immediate vicinity of the terminals for other motorists arriving for passenger drop-off and pickup only. Additionally, the grace period in the Terminal Car Park has been increased from 5 to 10 minutes, so that it can also accommodate a free pickup and drop-off function.
Budapest Airport decided to implement the comprehensive development of the access control system regulating vehicle flows to the airport car parks and the terminals in order to prevent congestion and queues in front of the terminals. The new system facilitates a continuous vehicle flow in front of the terminals, thereby enhancing safety. Restricting parking next to the terminal entrances is now standard international practice, whilst many airports only permit access for taxis and buses.
“The development of Terminal 2 has arrived at an important milestone, since so far it was primarily the passenger circulation areas of the buildings which underwent noticeable expansion and renovation, but the beneficiaries of this development will be vehicle users,” emphasized Alan Bork, director of the Business Unit Consumers, which also operates the car parks at Budapest Airport. “With the new system we are introducing international practice which enables seamless and civilized traffic management in the immediate vicinity of the terminals, whilst also providing a convenient solution for passengers.”
Budapest Airport-SSP: World-class food and beverage offer!
The food and beverage offer available at Budapest Airport’s terminals has won a prestigious international award. The Moodie Report, one of the most influential publications on the travel retail industry, handed out awards in 17 categories at a conference on gastronomic services offered at transport hubs such as airports and railway terminals. Budapest Airport has been declared the winner in one of the most important categories.
Budapest Airport joined a group of award-winning international airports which include Amsterdam Schipol, London Heathrow and Dublin Airport, which came out on top in other categories based on annual passenger traffic. The world’s largest F&B service providers operating at airports and railway terminals faced off for the awards in terms of quality and choice, including SSP Hungary, a company with an international ownership structure which operates three-quarters of the restaurants and bars at Budapest Airport.
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It is important to note that Budapest was represented at the gala by SSP Hungary, thus the winning selection almost included the full range of food and beverages offered at Budapest Airport. Terminal 2 and its central passenger facility, the SkyCourt is home to numerous restaurants, cafés and bars, where the selection of products on offer and value for money are now amongst the best in Europe, according to international passenger surveys.
“We are very proud of this award, because when we compiled the F&B offer for the SkyCourt, we aimed to provide high-quality services that are affordable and offer great variety, since this was the demand from our passengers,” said Alan Bork, director consumer for Budapest Airport. “We congratulate our partner for the successful entry and thank them for winning such a prestigious award for Budapest Airport.”
Size Matters: Qatar flying to BUD with increased capacity
From the 2nd August, Qatar service between Doha and Budapest will be operated with bigger planes. The reason behind putting the Airbus A321 into operation is the significant increase of demand for the flight of the five star Qatar Airlines connecting Zagreb with the Hungarian capital. News of Qatar Airways: ‘World’s Best Airline’ award winner for second consecutive year at the Skytrax World Airline Awards held at the Farnborough Air Show.
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It was only one and a half year ago that Qatar Airways launched its four weekly flights to Budapest with A320s. Thanks to the excellent service on board and the shorter journey to Asia, Australia and Africa, the new flight gained popularity very soon and from September 2011 there have been daily flights to Budapest. This capacity increase marks that the market confirms Qatar hopes of the BUD flight. Not only Middle East and Gulf Region destinations play a part in this but passengers flying with Qatar Airlines from Africa, Asia and Australia can reach their destinations 4-5 hours earlier than with transferring at a busy and crowded airport elsewhere in Europe.
Qatar Airways which is worthily named the five star airline of the world has proved once again that they do not sit around waiting. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al-Baker was handed the ‘World’s Best Airline award by Skytrax for the second consecutive year at the Farnborough Air Show. The UK based Skytrax is the only global independent passenger survey monitoring airline standards and is considered the ultimate benchmark for excellence in the airline industry.
“I am extremely proud of the adulation given once again by the very people who fly - the travelling public, for their support and faith in Qatar Airways,” said Al Baker, speaking after being presented with the awards.
Qatar Airways CEO added: “Qatar Airways set out on a mission 15 years ago when we launched to be the world’s best airline and spread the airline’s quality brand to all corners of the world.” Qatar Airways introduced only a few days ago its Boeing 787 Dreamliner cabin, which is scheduled to enter its first long-haul commercial service on the Doha – London Heathrow route. The Doha-based airline is preparing to take delivery of five 787s during 2012. Qatar Airways’ new 787s will feature a total of 254 seats in a two-class configuration of 22 in Business Class and 232 in Economy. The new aircrafts with a flying distance up to 14500 kilometres will be used primarily on Qatar Airways' Far East routes.
Budapest Airport turns to the Constitutional Court over land tax
Budapest Airport has submitted a petition to the Constitutional Court of Hungary, as the airport operator believes that it has been the subject of a disproportionately large increase in land tax this year. Budapest Airport’s view is that the sudden and disproportionate increase in local land tax violates constitutional principles.
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Budapest Airport’s legal representatives emphasized that, due to the nature of its operation and its safety and security obligations, the airport must possess large areas of land which cannot be used for other purposes, such as agricultural production. Consequently, the land tax levied on the airport should have been determined in a proportionate manner, taking into account the ability of the company to bear public burdens. Budapest Airport is anyhow the largest taxpayer in the southern Pest region, having paid no less than 7 billion HUF into the central budget and to local municipalities in various taxes last year. On top of this, since the change of ownership in 2006 the airport operator has invested more than 265 million euros (approx. 76 billion HUF) into modernizing and expanding the airport infrastructure, thereby fulfilling its commitment towards the Hungarian state undertaken in the privatization.
Budapest Airport reiterates that the bankruptcy of the Hungarian national carrier Malév on 3 February 2012 pushed the entire Hungarian aviation sector into a protracted and deep crisis. Several thousand jobs were lost at the airport, with many more set to follow in the Hungarian hotel and tourism industry if nothing is done to manage the crisis. The disproportionately high land tax only served to exacerbate the position of the airport, which further damages the competitiveness of the Hungarian economy and of Budapest in the region.
Budapest Airport considers it a peculiar concurrence that one of the main beneficiaries of the land tax modification is Budapest District XVII, which, according to a survey analyzing the financial management of municipalities, amassed record levels of debt running into billions of forints last year. Of the 46 largest Hungarian municipalities examined by the Hungarian Progressive Institute, Budapest District XVII finished as the third most rapidly indebted local government in Hungary, having become indebted at a rate of 230% in the space of a single year. Its figure for indebtedness per capita increased by 209%, which is the fourth worst number amongst the municipalities examined. It was then in March this year the mayor of District XVII who proposed the modification disproportionate against Budapest Airport to Parliament in the first place, while Hungarian aviation and tourism were suffering from the Malév collapse.
“In order to manage the post-Malév crisis, Budapest Airport submitted a package of more than ten proposed measures to the ministry, which included significantly reducing the land tax burden of the airport. The answer to the proposal was rejection on the one hand and a further increase in land tax on the other, so the airport operator has been forced to take legal steps as well,” said Jost Lammers, the CEO of Budapest Airport, about the submission of the petition to the Constitutional Court. “As the largest taxpayer and employer for the settlement, we are hopeful that discussions with the municipality of our home district of Budapest District XVIII, aimed at formulating a fair local tax policy catering for the interests of regional economic stakeholders as well, will be successful.”
Juventus Morning from SkyCourt
The Heinemann Duty Free store in SkyCourt was turned into an improvised radio studio on Friday, 20th July where Juventus Radio at 103.9 MHz was broadcasting live from the heart of Terminal 2 at the peak of a three-day radio contest in the framework of a joint marketing activity of Heinemann and Budapest Airport.Its goal, on the one hand, was to call passengers’ attention to the comfort of flying at the beginning of the summer holiday season, and on the other hand to attract attention to the services and products offered by the Heinemann Duty Free store. At the end of the contest, the lucky winner and his/her partner had the opportunity to fly with OTP-Travel to a one-week vacation in Turkey already in the evening of the same day.
Naturally, it was not as easy as it sounds, since contestants had had to perform a number of “rough” tasks also. Easier ones included finding BUD-stickered rubber planes hidden on the shelves of the duty free store within a set period of time. One of the hardest feats to achieve, however, was saying ‘Salem Aleykum’ with one’s mouth absolutely stuffed with jujube. The listeners of Juventus (and hopefully the contestants themselves) must have had great fun, as the unique show broadcast from the airport was made even more entertaining by the mini concert of a great voice, Viktor Varga, who was applauded and photographed by passengers.
Juventus Morning moderated by Petra Péter and Tibor Hajdú surely had the benefit of promoting the advantages of travelling by air, and a series of practical advice was shared once again as to what passengers should take good care of while packing their bags, what they should expect at the security screening at the airport, what the life of the airport is like behind the scenes, and how it is possible to protect aircraft with falcons from crashing with other birds. The live show broadcast from SkyCourt also had an unexpected surprise to offer: a Canadian-Hungarian lady reported that his husband and kids were listening to Juventus in Canada on the internet, and then it was only natural that the Hungarian mum delivered her message live both in Hungarian and English that she was on her way home and was soon to board her plane…
’Ferihegy Station’ Discount Parking
After closing down Terminal 1, a new discount car park was opened in the former long-term car park.
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The P+R “Ferihegy Station” car park makes commuters’ lives easier as they can catch here any of the trains which can be used with a BKV [Budapest Public Transport] season ticket which take passengers to Kőbánya-Kispest, or to Zugló or Nyugati railway stations, thereby making it possible for them to avoid the hassle of having to wait in traffic jams. Passengers may also enjoy this financially advantageous solution during the morning and evening peaks. Based on the rates adjusted to standard working hours, 14 hours of parking will only cost 500 HUF, and users will only have to pay 1000 HUF before exiting after 24 hours of parking.
Coupon promotion and fan restaurants during Olymics
Terminal 2 will be enveloped in Olympics fever in August. During Olympics, passengers who would like to follow the Olympics races before boarding their flights will be able to do so with a nice glass of beer or soft drink at numerous restaurants at the airport. Giant plasma TVs will be placed in a total of 9 restaurants, bars and coffee with all races of Olympics due to be shown. The restaurant coupons which proved successful during the spring will now be distributed in connection with Olympics throughout the month of August at the boarding pass checking counters. Passengers will thus have a choice of special discount meals whilst they cheer their team on.
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Fan restaurants:
Café Ritazza (2A departure level, landside)
Gundel (SkyCourt departure level)
Hippopotamus (SkyCourt mezzanine level)
Leroy (SkyCourt mezzanine level)
Café Ritazza (2A transit area)
Bill Bentley (2A transit area)
Bar Wings (2B transit area)
Negroni (2B transit area)
Costa Coffe (SkyCourt gallery)
Dr. Juice (SkyCourt gallery)