Major airport hubs across Central Europe have been plunged into chaos this morning after being forced to close due to treacherous icy conditions. Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava airports all implemented temporary shutdowns as black ice and extreme icing created severe safety risks for aircraft operations.
Widespread Disruption Across Key Hubs
The disruptions began early on Tuesday, 13 January 2026. Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport announced a full closure from 10:25 local time, citing "increased safety risks caused by black ice and extreme icing." The airport communicated the decision on social media platform X, noting similar issues were affecting several airports in the region.
In Austria, Vienna Airport's runways were coated in a thick layer of ice that persistently refroze, making them unusable. The airport's website warned passengers to expect significant disruptions to flights throughout the day and urged them to check their flight status directly with their airline.
Gradual Reopenings and Ongoing Delays
While Bratislava Airport managed to reopen by 11:15 am local time after a brief closure, operations elsewhere remained heavily restricted. A spokesperson for Vienna Airport told Sky News that departures were scheduled to resume from 11:00 am local time (10:00 UK time), with arrivals following an hour later.
Flight information boards told the story of the morning's chaos, with numerous arrivals and departures at Vienna listed as delayed or cancelled. An emergency operations team at Bratislava was convened to assess runway braking conditions before giving the all-clear.
Ripple Effects and Passenger Advice
The severe weather's impact extended beyond the fully closed airports. Václav Havel Airport Prague was operating in a restricted mode, limiting arrivals to just six per hour as of 11:00 due to intensive de-icing operations. Airport authorities across the affected region uniformly stated that the safety of flight operations, passengers, and staff was the absolute priority.
Passengers are being strongly advised to take the following steps:
- Check the latest flight status directly with their airline via mobile apps or websites.
- Monitor official airport websites for real-time updates on operations.
- Pay close attention to public address announcements at airport terminals.
The situation remains fluid, and further updates are expected as airport teams continue to battle the freezing conditions.
