A new airport closure occurred in Europe due to severe weather conditions. Budapest Airport cited increased safety risks from black ice and extreme icing, leading to its temporary shutdown. Vienna Airport in Austria also faced temporary closure due to ice accumulation, causing expected flight disruptions. Bratislava Airport in Slovakia briefly closed and warned of ongoing delays. Václav Havel Airport in Prague operated in a limited mode, with flight delays expected due to de-icing activities.
Despite challenges, Václav Havel Airport Prague gradually resumed normal operations, but flight delays persisted, with several cancellations. A weather system across central and eastern Europe brought snow and freezing rain, causing widespread icy conditions and travel disruptions. The Sky News weather team highlighted the wintry mix affecting multiple countries, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.
This incident followed Storm Goretit’s impact in the UK, leading to airport closures and flight cancellations. British Airways faced significant disruptions at Heathrow Airport. In another event, extreme cold in northern Finland stranded tourists as flights were canceled due to challenging de-icing conditions. The situation at Kittilä Airport with temperatures reaching -37C posed operational difficulties.
