Icy conditions have forced the temporary closure of Vienna Airport, with operations suspended until at least 11:00 am local time (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday.

A spokesperson said a thick layer of ice had formed on the runways and continued to refreeze despite repeated clearing efforts. As a result, flights are being diverted to alternative airports. Recent data shows that in the days leading up to the closure, Vienna was already experiencing significant delays — with roughly 20 % of departures and nearly 10 % of arrivals running late due to snow and freezing conditions. De-icing backlogs and staff shortages exacerbated delays as ramp crews contended with hazardous travel conditions to the airport.

Austrian Airlines and other carriers at VIE have implemented voluntary rebooking policies for travellers affected by the broader weather disruptions.

Severe winter weather has also disrupted operations at Prague Airport, where freezing rain has left the airport operating in a “very limited mode,” according to a statement on its official X account. Authorities 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), the airport said in a post on Facebook.

Independent flight tracking shows that earlier in the cold snap a heavy snowstorm dubbed “Storm Goretti” dumped up to 15 cm of snow, triggering cancellations (including to destinations such as Warsaw, Paris and Frankfurt) and severe delays as runway crews struggled to keep surfaces safe.