Tui confirms Birmingham-Budapest flights to serve river cruises

A new route from Birmingham to Budapest next summer will serve Tui’s Danube river cruises.

The weekly Monday service from May 4 until September 2026 comes as the operator deploys three Tui River Cruises ships on the Danube for the first time.

The vessels Isla, Maya and Skyla will all be based on the river for the full summer season with flights from Birmingham added following growing demand for river cruises in the central Europe region, according to the operator.

The air link to the Hungarian capital will also will serve holidays to Lake Balaton, part of the operator’s lakes & mountains programme. 

A seven-night Tui river cruise based on the Birmingham flights to Budapest start at £1,529 per person on May 4 next year.

Flight-only rates from Birmingham departing on May 11 and returning on May 18 start at £241, including 15kg of checked-in luggage and 10kg of hand luggage per person.

Tui UK & Ireland commercial director Chris Logan 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.” 

Birmingham airport aviation director Tom Screen added: “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.”