The inaugural flight will take off on 4 May 2026 offering travellers in the Midlands convenient access to Hungary’s capital city.
Sitting on the Danube, Budapest is the first port of call on selected TUI River Cruises holidays in 2026 and this new route has been added following the growth in demand for river cruises in the Central Europe region. For the first time in 2026, three of TUI River Cruises’ ships, Isla, Maya and Skyla will all be based on the Danube for the full summer season. The weekly service will operate on Mondays during the summer season, providing access to one of Europe’s most beautiful and underrated cities, with its perfect mix of history, culture, relaxation, and nightlife.
In addition, the route – which can also be booked as flight only – will serve holidays to Lake Balaton, part of TUI’s Lakes & Mountains collection between May and September 2026. Lake Balaton is a freshwater lake in western Hungary, home to beaches, volcanic hills, hiking trails and even a wine-growing region making it the perfect break for those looking to explore a different side of Europe.
Chris Logan, Commercial Director at TUI UK said: "We're excited to be adding Budapest to our growing portfolio of destinations available from Birmingham Airport. This route is especially important for our popular TUI River Cruises which has seen continued demand in recent years, as well as our Lakes & Mountains holidays, and we’re pleased to now offer our customers based in the Midlands even more choice and flexibility when it comes to their holidays.”
Tom Screen, Aviation Director of Birmingham Airport said: “It is great to see that TUI will be launching a new weekly flight to Budapest, opening up more options for travellers direct from Birmingham. A popular city break destination, this route is yet another addition to TUI's great portfolio of destinations from Birmingham Airport.”