Icy conditions have forced the temporary closure of Vienna International Airport, with flight operations suspended until at least 11:00 am local time (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday, intensifying travel disruption across Central Europe.
A spokesperson for the airport said a thick layer of ice had formed on the runways and continued to refreeze despite repeated clearing efforts, making safe take-offs and landings impossible. As a result, inbound flights have been diverted to alternative airports while departures remain on hold.
The shutdown follows several days of operational strain. Recent data shows that in the lead-up to the closure, around 20 percent of departures and nearly 10 percent of arrivals at Vienna were already delayed due to snow and freezing temperatures. De-icing backlogs, combined with staff shortages caused by hazardous road conditions, further compounded delays as ramp crews struggled to reach the airport.
Austrian Airlines and other carriers operating at Vienna have introduced voluntary rebooking policies, allowing affected passengers to change their travel plans without additional fees amid the ongoing weather disruption.
Winter weather has also significantly impacted Prague Airport, where freezing rain has left the airport operating in what authorities described as a “very limited mode.” In a statement published on its official X account, airport officials warned that delays are expected throughout the day, with arrivals restricted while crews work to de-ice the main runway.
In neighboring Slovakia, Bratislava Airport was closed due to weather conditions until 11:15 am local time (10:15 GMT), according to an official Facebook post from the airport.
Independent flight tracking data shows that the current disruption is part of a broader cold snap that has already caused widespread cancellations and delays. Earlier, a heavy snowstorm known as Storm Goretti dumped up to 15 centimeters of snow across parts of the region, triggering flight cancellations to destinations including Warsaw, Paris and Frankfurt as runway crews struggled to keep surfaces safe.
In Poland, conditions have also been challenging. At Gdańsk Airport, the airport remained officially open, but intense snowfall led to at least 14 flights being cancelled or diverted. Crews on multiple aircraft opted to land at alternate airports due to unsafe landing conditions, disrupting services to cities such as Stockholm, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Warsaw.
Further south near the Polish capital, Warsaw Modlin Airport, a key base for low-cost carrier Ryanair, fully suspended flight operations until visibility improves and the runway can be cleared.
With freezing temperatures forecast to persist, aviation authorities across Central Europe are warning passengers to expect continued delays and last-minute changes, urging travellers to check flight status regularly and allow extra time for winter-related disruptions.
