Severe cold weather conditions have led to the temporary closure of airports in four key central European cities, causing significant disruptions to travel plans.
The airports in Budapest, Hungary; Vienna, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia; and Prague, Czech Republic were all briefly shut down on Tuesday morning due to icy weather conditions.
Budapest Airport announced on social media that it would halt all incoming and outgoing flights from 10.25 am local time (9.25 am GMT) due to hazardous black ice. Hungary issued freezing rain and snow alerts, with ice forming on the Danube and Tisza rivers. Additionally, Lake Balaton in western Hungary has frozen, a rare event occurring once every 10 to 15 years.
Vienna International Airport also faced closure as a thick layer of ice covered its runways, repeatedly freezing despite clearance attempts, according to a spokesperson. Flights were redirected to alternate airports, and Austria’s state railway operator advised passengers to delay non-essential travel due to service disruptions and cancellations.
In Slovakia, Bratislava Airport shut down due to snowy and icy conditions, with black ice alerts in the western regions and heavy snowfall in central and northern areas, as reported by The Slovak Spectator. Both Vienna and Bratislava airports were scheduled to resume operations later on Tuesday morning.
Prague Airport indicated it was operating in a significantly limited capacity, noting on social media: “Due to intense freezing rain, arrivals are being restricted to facilitate de-icing of the main runway, taxiways, and aircraft stands. These restrictions will result in flight delays throughout the day.”
Meanwhile, in northern Finland, extreme cold led to the cancellation of flights, leaving thousands of tourists stranded. Temperatures at Kittilä Airport plunged to -37C, posing challenges for aircraft de-icing, as reported by Finland’s public broadcaster Yle.
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