Budapest  - Passengers at Budapest's Ferihegy International Airport were faced with the prospect of more queues and delays as a strike entered its seventh day on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, striking rail workers began their third day of nationwide industrial action in a dispute that has already brought Hungary's railways to a near standstill.

Budapest Airport (BA), the firm that operates Hungary's only major international airport, announced on Wednesday morning that there would be no further cancellations on Tuesday.

The national airline Malev had already announced on Monday the cancellation of three of its Monday flights.

Over half of a group of replacement security staff brought in from other EU countries came on duty on Tuesday, BA said in a statement.

On Tuesday morning, there was less of the chaos seen on earlier days of the strike, although security gates are still only in operation at one of the airport's three passenger terminals.

Meanwhile, the national rail strike entered its third day on Tuesday after negotiations the previous day between management and the largest rail union, the VDSZSZ, came to nothing.

On Tuesday morning, Budapest's three main railway stations were largely deserted, and at least one had cancelled all departures.

As the VDSZSZ only represents about a quarter of Hungary's rail workers, some provincial trains stations were able to operate, but national rail travel remained uncertain and subject to lengthy delays or cancellations.

Hungarian State Railways (MAV) is refusing point blank to meet the union's demands for a backdated, 10-per-cent pay rise for subcontracted workers and that all employees should receive a one-off payment of 250,000 forints (934 euros) from the sale of MAV Cargo, the recently spun-off freight wing of the loss-making state firm.

Finance Minister Janos Veres broke the government's silence over the strike on Tuesday morning television, saying the union's demand for a share of the proceeds of the privatization was unlawful and groundless.

"The government cannot meet groundless demands," Veres said.

"If the VDSZSZ proceeds on this basis, then not only 40,000 rail workers, but 10 million citizens would receive a quarter of a million forints," the finance minister continued.

He also dismissed demands for a wage rise. "In Hungary today it is unrealistic to demand a 10-per-cent pay rise," Veres said. (dpa)