The new year brings potentially great news to Budapest. After a bitter fight the giant British Airport Authority (BAA) has beaten the competition and paid a record £1.26 billion for the 75 year right to be Budapest’s Ferihegy airport’s sole operator. Promising huge expansion, spending over £160 million, including a fast train link into the city center, they plan to make Budapest the main hub for Eastern Europe. They hope to capitalize on the rapidly rising number of people using the airport (up 29% in 2005). The end results to those flying to Budapest should be increased flights from more places at lower prices.