Four major airports across Central Europe were forced to shut down or severely restrict operations on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, as a severe winter storm brought treacherous conditions to the region.
Multiple Hubs Halted by Ice and Snow
The wave of disruption began early in the morning, with Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport in Hungary announcing a temporary closure. Airport authorities cited "increased safety risks caused by black ice and extreme icing" on the runways. In a statement posted on social media platform X, they confirmed the closure was implemented due to adverse weather, mirroring situations at several other Central European hubs.
Similarly, Vienna Airport in Austria was compelled to close its runways because of a thick layer of ice. Officials warned passengers to expect significant disruptions to flights throughout the day. Over in Slovakia, Bratislava Airport also closed briefly, reopening at 11:15 am local time but advising that delays would persist.
Ongoing Disruptions and Safety Measures
While Budapest Airport managed to reopen both of its runways by 1 pm local time, the ripple effects of the weather event continued. Václav Havel Airport in Prague reported major impacts, though it avoided a full shutdown. To manage the situation, the Czech airport increased its permitted arrival rate from just 2 to 6 flights per hour from 11:00 am onwards.
This cautious approach was due to intensive de-icing operations required to ensure the operational readiness of runways and other critical airside areas. A spokesperson emphasised that the safety of flight operations, passengers, and employees remained the absolute top priority during the extreme conditions.
Passengers Face Widespread Travel Chaos
The simultaneous closures and restrictions at four key transport hubs created a domino effect of cancellations and delays across European air travel. Thousands of passengers faced uncertainty, with airlines scrambling to rearrange schedules. The incident highlights the vulnerability of even major international airports to sudden and severe winter weather, particularly the dangers posed by black ice, which is difficult to see and exceptionally hazardous for aircraft.
Travelers are being urged to check directly with their airlines for the latest information on flight status before heading to any of the affected airports, as operations slowly return to normal.
