Struggling Hungarian Airlines, Malev has been forced to go under following an EU decree forcing it to return Government funds that were meant to keep it afloat. Other airlines complained of Government intervention for what was essentially a private company.

It’s a sad day for the staff at Malev, an airline with a good track record of service over the years with a favourable slot from London Heathrow Airport direct to Budapest. The economic crisis facing Hungary has taken its toll on its business already facing significant challenges.

Ryanair is now poised to become the dominant airline at Budapest Airport, already announcing 26 new routes from there. 7500 passengers were affected on Friday 3^rd February when the whole Malev fleet was grounded, which in turn is a major crisis for the Airport, having lost its biggest customer. Easyjet are expected to expand services to Budapest as well.

The increasing dominance of Ryanair across Europe is causing dismay amongst many people, including a man who chained himself to the goalposts at a Premiership football match at the weekend, complaining about the airlines’ treatment of his daughter who was made redundant and forced to buy her own ticket home.