Rural Hungary

I'm sure it will all go smoothly and we are only a phone call away if you need us

Well I thought the heat must have gotten to him and perhaps he had actually seen a Lufthansa flight, so I checked the flight tracker history and it was a Wizzair airbus. It was the circling Sarmellek for half an hour that made us wonder if it was using the airport for training

Les and Jenn

MORE NEWS FROM MTI THAT I HAVE JUST BEEN FORWARDED

Summer flight schedule to begin at FlyBalaton airport on April 16
MTI – Econews

Friday 07:30, March 25th, 2011

The FlyBalaton airport in Sármellek (W Hungary) will begin its summer flight schedule on April 16, airport operator FB Airport told MTI on Thursday.

FB Airport said that German flag carrier Lufthansa will operate weekly flights from Frankfurt and Dusseldorf and fortnightly flights from Hamburg and Berlin to FlyBalaton as part of the airport's summer schedule, while German charter airline Hamburg Airways will operate monthly flights to the airport from Erfurt, Leipzig and Dresden. FlyBalaton will receive three or four charter flights per week during the summer, FB Airport said.

FB Airport noted that Tibor Polgár had been appointed to serve as the company's CEO in place of Agoston Gubicza, who left the post to become a member of the government's Balaton Development Council. Polgár will also retain his position as CEO of FB Airport group member Balatontourist Zrt.

Polgár told MTI that FlyBalaton hopes to increase passenger traffic in 2011, noting that FB Airport is in advanced stages of negotiations aimed at retaining winter flight traffic from Moscow during the summer as well.

Communications Director Péter Elkán of FB Airport owner SCD told MTI in October that FlyBalaton was expecting passenger traffic of 20,000-25,000 in 2010, under the targeted 25,000-30,000, though well above the aiport's 2009 passenger traffic of 12,000.

Polgár told MTI on Thursday that it has not yet been determined whether Irish low-fare airline Ryanair will resume operating flights to FlyBalaton airport this summer. Ryanair, which used to account for the highest amount of flight traffic at FlyBalaton, discontinued flights to the airport in October 2008.

Polgár noted that FlyBalaton is also aiming to further increase cargo traffic at the airport.

Rural Hungary

Hi Jen, I think a condensed version of that report was posted in March and since then there have been no further announcements, so assuming no further progress. It's a bit late in the year now - if anything happens, I think it will be next year

Les and Jenn

Totally agree they have really missed the boat now !!!

Rural Hungary

Have you any idea Jenn why a Wizzair air plane would be flying out of Sarmellek ?

Les and Jenn

None at all we are coming to Zalavar next week and are there for about a week so we may see some comings and goings of planes if we get time amongst the weeds and grass cutting we may try and go into Flybalaton and see if we can see someone face to face. Just to re-iterate we are driving over because the prices for flying had gone up to ridiculous levels after us waiting for Ryanair.
Jenn

Rural Hungary

I empathise with the weeding! This year I am smothering everything with geo textile as I just don't have the time.

I have heard of a few people choosing to drive over due to the lack of local flights and others flying to Graz and Zagreb as they tend to be cheaper (especially Graz) than Budapest. Though that said, I have noticed an increase in prices since last year - a knock on effect of Ryanair pulling out of Hungary?

Will be interesting to hear whether you find out anything new, perhaps they will give away more verbally than in writing

Good luck with the drive, I don't envy you as it's quite a trek, hopefully you won't have to do it too often

Rural Hungary

Email from Flybalaton :

Dear xxxxx,

We regretfully inform you that Ryanair will not operate flights from/to FlyBalaton Airport in 2011. We note the decision of the airline and we continue our efforts to make scheduled services available from FlyBalaton Airport.

Thank you for your understanding!
Brgds,


So, reading between the lines, looks like Ryanair have pulled out completely - not a surprise! Were I a cynic, I would now be awaiting their announcement that they were to recommence flights to Budapest

However, if they are now pursuing other possibilities, it might explain why a Wizzair airbus was at Sarmellek? I do hope so as I would choose Wizzair over Ryanair any day of the week

Les and Jenn

Hi Rural just got the same email as you - now we need to put some pressure on Wizzair to start - I am ready to start emailing and sending letters !!!
Perhaps we should drop in when we are there this week and suggest this .......
Make sure you keep the weather nice for us.
Jenn

Rural Hungary

Hi Jenn, I have emailed SCD group asking whether they have approached Wizzair, whether they respond or not is anybodies guess So yes, you dropping in would be a good idea

Wizzair were originally sent a copy of the petition, it might be worth resending it to them, will try and find the most relevant email address later. If you have it already, please forward it to me or feel free to forward the petition link to them.

I would imagine that if Ryanair have pulled out completely then SCD group will have already approached another airline as the airport will not remain operational if relying solely on charter flights! Wizzair seems the most likely and for me it would be the better option especially with their generous baggage allowance.

John Gilbert

How sad - but predictable.

One wonders why the local & regional tourist associations and the local and regional governments do not take more of an interest in trying to make the London link work.

200 on a plane, say twice a week (400) for even just 20 weeks, each spending £1,000 would inject £8,000,000 or HUF 2,400,000,000 into the regional economy every year. With the multiplier effect double this or more?

I know the EU has ruled out direct subsidy of flights but a little knocking of heads together to help the solution along might benefit the local economy considerably.

Rural Hungary

What I was told last year, by a knowledgeable expat, was that under the management of Cape Aviation, the landing fees were subsidised by Balaton tourism and local businesses (mainly hotels?). A survey was carried out with passengers being requested to complete on board questionnaires. The result was that a large majority of passengers were home or holiday home owners and not "tourists", therefore, not staying in local hotels, eating in restaurants etc. The subsidies were ended and Ryanair pulled out. As I said, this is what I heard but I have no reason to doubt the person I heard it from.

Personally I thought it was ridiculous as even holiday home owners bring money into the local economy, enough surely to negate the subsidy?

Rural Hungary

Curiouser and curiouser! Another Wizzair airbus took of from Sarmellek having travelled from Budapest before travelling and circling.
It may very well be pilot training though I thought this was done by another company using not branded planes? No reply from SCD group on the subject, wondering if you have had any luck Jenn?

Les and Jenn

Hiya
Sorry I didnt get the chance to go to Flybalaton we had a bit of a nightmare week at the house as our car decided to play up on route and we ended up having to get some very kind neighbours to fix our exhaust (we are now nicknaming them "The A Team" as they did a fantastic job...) What with that and the weeds !!! I didnt get to Flybalaton as hoped. I will try the email route but have to find my Wizzair brochure to see if I can find a good email address. On the positive note my husband saw a Wizzair plane circling around Sarmellek so it does make you wonder if they are interested. I have absolutely no faith in Ryanair even if they did come back to Flybalaton I am sure that they would soon leave again if they didnt get their way with things - the boss seems that kind of guy!!! (cant stand him myself). I will also email SCD and see what I can get out of them. PS thanks for making the weather good we only had one cloudy day.

Goo

Hi All,
I hope everyone had a lovely Easter, for those of you in West Balaton, I share your dissapointment about the wet weather as I was there....!
I was in Balaton during Easter week. I arrived in Budapest with Easyjet, in my opinion they are far better in than Ryanair, service, planes, staff and of course 20kg allowance (Ryanair 15kg). It was 3 of us and Easyjey looks at the combined weight (max 60kg in total - Ryanair will deal with each passanger individually and charge extra for anything over 15kg) and I never noticed it but there is no weight restriction in the cabin luggage!

Anyway the point I wanted to make was about Hire car.
I had made contact with Thrifty-Dollar via email and arranged a car for this trip and my next (end of May). For a Citroen Xsara Picasso (it's a big enough for 4 people+luggage or 5 people crammed in with luggage!!) they charged 200Euros (for 7 days rental) including highway sticker and 1 extra driver (15Euros). But beware that there is an additional charge for after hours. Having said that they are open until 23:00 Mon-Fri and until 20:00 Sat-Sun. (they will wait for you outside these hours but there is a charge, it's best to clarify this when booking).
For more information or quote you can email them on [email protected] or [email protected]
They are very helpful, they will pick you up and drop you back at the airport for the frilght.
I always choose to deal with the local companies directly (where possible) instead of faceless online brokers.
I am going again at the end of May and they already reserved the same car I used for me. Well I'd say give them a go and let me know how you get on.
Best Regards...
Goo