Hungarian taxpayers spent over two billion forints on private jet travel for Péter Szijjártó in 2025, according to data released by György László Velkey, a parliamentary state secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The records detail 19 separate official trips where the minister and his delegation utilized private aircraft, with costs totaling 2 036 759 693 forints.
How much did private jet travel cost in 2025?
According to the breakdown provided by Velkey on social media, the ministry’s internal audit revealed a consistent pattern of private jet rentals throughout the year. The costs associated with these flights cover only the rental fees, excluding additional expenses such as accommodation or daily allowances. The most expensive single trip recorded took place in February 2025, involving travel between Budapest, New York, and Washington, costing 245 906 547 forints.
The ministry’s records show that even short-haul regional flights incurred significant costs. For instance, a March 2025 trip between Budapest, Bratislava, and back cost taxpayers 18 059 755 forints.
Why are these travel expenses under legal scrutiny?
The publication of these figures follows a prolonged legal battle initiated by the investigative outlet Átlátszó. The organization filed a public interest data request in early 2024 after reader photographs linked a specific private aircraft to the minister’s travel itinerary. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs moved to amend laws to restrict the disclosure of travel details, the Kúria ruled in favor of Átlátszó, ordering the release of the information.
Despite the court ruling issued on December 18, 2025, the ministry failed to comply within the 15-day deadline. Átlátszó has since initiated enforcement proceedings, citing continuous legal violations and a breach of constitutional obligations regarding the transparency of public spending.
What is the official position on the use of private jets?
State Secretary Velkey stated that the minister authorized these flights himself, noting that existing government decrees permitted such expenditures. In his post, the state secretary criticized the minister’s travel habits, referencing a previous incident where the minister was photographed on a luxury yacht while officially recorded as being on government business.
Selected 2025 Flight Data
- Jan 27–29 (Brussels–London–Abu Dhabi): 98 981 657 HUF
- Feb 17–20 (Budapest–New York–Washington–Budapest): 245 906 547 HUF
- June 4–6 (Budapest–Mexico City–San Salvador–Geneva–Budapest): 202 039 586 HUF
- Sept 16–18 (Budapest–Tokyo–Osaka–Budapest): 196 531 753 HUF
- Dec 16–18 (Budapest–New York–Budapest): 134 932 591 HUF
When tracking government spending, always check for court-ordered disclosures. Public interest litigation is often the primary mechanism for accessing data that ministries attempt to classify under national security or administrative exemptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do these figures include hotel and meal costs?
- No. According to the state secretary, these figures represent only the private aircraft rental fees.
- Was the minister always on the flights?
- The records list 19 trips taken by the minister and his delegation, though Átlátszó reported instances where a private plane followed the minister even when he opted for rail travel, such as during a trip between New York and Washington.
- What is the status of the legal enforcement?
- Átlátszó has initiated enforcement proceedings against the ministry for failing to comply with the Kúria’s final judgment to release the data within the mandated timeframe.
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