The airport, 50 percent-owned by Germany's Hochtief (HOTG.DE), was able to fill part of the gap left by Malev when it stopped operating last year with business from budget airlines, daily Handelsblatt quoted Jost Lammers as saying.

Passenger numbers declined no more than 6 percent, he said.

The better than expected performance might affect a compensation bill of up to 800 billion forints Hungary could face from the operators of the airport, including German services company Hochtief.

The compensation, due to guarantees given in the operating contract by the Hungarian government, would have "grave consequences" for reaching Hungary's budget deficit target, the Development Ministry has said.

The impact of Malev's collapse also means that the airport will reach its growth targets two to three years later than planned, Lammers told the newspaper.

It will reach "sustainable positive results" from 2014, he said, according to the paper. (Reporting By Peter Dinkloh; Editing by Greg Mahlich)

• A Permanent Economic Emergency