Budapest, Hungary – Hungarian Airlines is making ambitious strides in the global aviation market, with plans to become a major player connecting Central and Eastern Europe with China. The airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Boeing for the purchase of 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, according to a report by Airportal.hu.

Citing Chinese media outlet Xin Dabao, the report stated that Hungarian Airlines signed the deal during the 2nd China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo on November 27th. However, the original article has since been removed.

The acquisition of these new aircraft aligns with the airline's goal of establishing Budapest Airport as a regional hub for air travel between Central and Eastern Europe and China, positioning Hungarian Airlines as a global brand.

To support its expansion plans, Hungarian Airlines is set to launch a cargo route between Budapest and Hong Kong in December 2024. The airline believes that increasing passenger traffic with China requires a regional hub carrier capable of connecting Chinese passengers to Central and Eastern Europe, and even the rest of Europe, via Budapest.

While the airline's ambitions are significant, some experts question whether ordering such a large fleet is overly ambitious, given the size of the Hungarian and European markets.

The emergence of a new European airline could also benefit China, as major European carriers have been calling on the EU to take action against the expansion of Chinese airlines at Western European hubs.

Hungarian Airlines, which was founded in 2021, is transitioning from a cargo airline to a passenger airline. The company is also in the process of acquiring an Airbus A330F freighter purchased by the Hungarian government in 2020 and is seeking an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).