Ryanair has announced plans to open a new base in Budapest following the grounding of Hungarian airline Malev last week.
The Hungarian national airline folded after being unable to sustain its financial situation.
Ryanair said it will base four new Boeing 737-800 aircraft at Budapest Airport from Friday February 17 to operate 31 new routes, replacing most of the routes lost by Malev.
These routes include Budapest to Bristol, Dublin, London Stansted, and Manchester.
Ryanair, which currently employs over 700 Hungarian pilots and cabin crew, will be holding an open recruitment day in Budapest on Tuesday for pilots, cabin crew and engineers.
Meanwhile, easyJet is offering those passengers stranded by the Malev cancellations a special rescue fee of €60 to return home.
The offer is for any Malev passenger due to travel inbound until midnight Thursday 9 February.
EasyJet operates from Budapest to London, Paris, and Berlin.
by Bev Fearis
