A new update reveals that adverse weather conditions have led to the closure of a fourth major airport in Europe. Budapest Airport announced that it had to temporarily shut down due to increased safety risks caused by black ice and extreme icing. The closure was part of a series of airport disruptions in Central Europe due to the challenging weather conditions.
After the temporary closure, Budapest Airport reopened at 1 pm local time with both runways operational. Similarly, Vienna Airport in Austria had to close its runways temporarily due to a thick layer of ice, causing disruptions to flights to and from the airport.
Bratislava Airport in Slovakia also experienced a brief closure but reopened later in the morning, warning passengers of possible delays throughout the day. Václav Havel Airport in Prague was operating in a limited mode due to intense freezing rain, leading to arrival restrictions and flight delays.
Despite the challenges, Václav Havel Airport Prague gradually increased permitted arrivals to ensure operational readiness. The airport’s operations have returned to normal, but delays are still expected, with several cancellations reported as a result of the emergency situation.
The disruptions were part of a broader weather system affecting central and eastern Europe, bringing snow and freezing rain, resulting in icy conditions and travel disruptions. The Sky News weather team highlighted the wintry conditions affecting multiple countries and warned of further travel disruptions due to icy conditions.
This weather event follows Storm Goretit’s impact in the UK, which led to airport closures and flight cancellations. British Airways, among other airlines, faced significant flight disruptions during this period. Additionally, extreme cold weather in northern Finland caused flight cancellations, leaving thousands of tourists stranded at Kittilä Airport due to the challenging conditions for aircraft de-icing.
