Hungary in Schengen - new rules at Ferihegy Airport from 30th March 2008
Budapest Airport joins the Schengen system on 30 March. That is, as of this date, passengers traveling within the Schengen zone will no longer be subject to border controls. The strict inspection of travel documents will remain in place for non-Schengen passengers.
The date of the airport’s accession to the Schengen zone coincides with the introduction of the summer schedule 2008. Airports located in the countries that joined the Schengen agreement last December will uniformly introduce the new border control system on 30 March.
As of 30 March, Terminal 2A will serve Schengen and Terminal 2B non-Schengen traffic. Terminal 1, which is home to low-cost carriers, will handle both Schengen and non-Schengen passengers.
During the last two years, Budapest Airport spent several hundred million forints on converting the airport to suit Schengen requirements. At Terminal 2, amongst other things, BA constructed six two-directional passport control booths, two new bus gates and a new passenger security channel, and airport staff received trainings.
At Terminal 1, a glass wall will separate the transit areas reserved for Schengen and non-Schengen passengers.
The changes do not affect baggage and passenger security screening, since these serve the safety and security of aviation, irrespective of Schengen accession.
The Schengen (2A) and non-Schengen (2B) terminals are linked by a transfer corridor, to be used by passengers changing at Budapest Airport to get from one terminal to the other.
Budapest Airport advises to passengers to arrive at the airport two hours in advance their departures.
The following countries belong to the Schengen zone: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden.
For more information please get in contact with:
Budapest Airport Zrt.
Corporate and Public Affairs Directorate
E-mail: press@bud.hu
Telephone: + 36 1 296 5303
Fax: + 36 1 296 5304
www.bud.hu
