A significant airport in Europe closed temporarily due to severe weather conditions. Budapest Airport announced that it had to shut down temporarily because of increased safety risks caused by black ice and extreme icing. This closure was in line with other airports in Central Europe facing adverse weather conditions. The airport later reopened at 1 pm local time, with both runways operational. Vienna Airport in Austria also experienced a temporary closure due to a thick layer of ice, causing disruptions to flights to and from Vienna.
Similarly, Bratislava Airport in Slovakia closed briefly in the morning but reopened at 11:15 am local time, warning passengers of continued delays throughout the day. Václav Havel Airport in Prague also faced operational disruptions due to intense freezing rain. The airport had to restrict arrivals for de-icing purposes, leading to flight delays. Despite the challenges, operations gradually resumed, although delays are expected to persist.
A weather system sweeping through central and eastern Europe brought snow and freezing rain, resulting in widespread icy conditions and travel disruptions. This weather phenomenon affected parts of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, causing further travel chaos for roads and airports. The recent weather disturbances follow Storm Goretit’s impact on the UK, which led to airport closures and flight cancellations, including British Airways canceling numerous flights at Heathrow Airport.
Moreover, extreme cold weather conditions in northern Finland stranded thousands of tourists as flights were canceled due to the challenging -37°C temperatures at Kittilä Airport, making aircraft de-icing operations difficult.