A new major airport in Europe has been compelled to close its operations due to severe weather conditions. Budapest Airport announced that heightened safety risks from black ice and extreme icing forced the temporary shutdown earlier today. The airport stated that adverse weather conditions led to the closure, aligning with other airports in Central Europe facing similar challenges.
Following a brief closure, Budapest Airport resumed operations at 1 pm local time, with both runways functioning. Vienna Airport in Austria also experienced a temporary closure due to a thick layer of ice, causing flight disruptions. Bratislava Airport in Slovakia briefly closed but later reopened with ongoing delays. Václav Havel Airport in Prague reported limited operations due to freezing rain, resulting in flight delays throughout the day.
Václav Havel Airport later increased permitted arrivals from 2 to 6 per hour to manage de-icing requirements for safety. Despite the restoration of normal operations, flight delays are anticipated, with several cancellations reported. The airport assured that operations were running without restrictions but advised passengers to expect delays throughout the day.
A weather system moving across central and eastern Europe has brought snow and freezing rain, leading to widespread icy conditions and disruptions. The Sky News weather team warned of wintry weather impacting parts of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania, potentially causing further travel disruptions.
This weather event follows Storm Goretit’s impact in the UK, resulting in airport closures and flight cancellations. British Airways alone canceled over 70 flights at Heathrow Airport. Over the weekend, extreme cold in northern Finland led to flight cancellations, leaving thousands of tourists stranded as aircraft de-icing faced challenges due to plummeting temperatures.