• On January 13, 2026, extreme icy weather led to temporary airport closures in Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava, severely disrupting air traffic across Central Europe. Runways at Vienna and Budapest were rendered unsafe by persistent “extreme” ice, while Prague Airport operated in limited mode due to freezing rain.
• Bratislava Airport halted all flights until at least 11:15 AM, citing safety risks. Flight delays and diversions affected operations region-wide.

Severe icy conditions across Central Europe disrupted air traffic on Tuesday, forcing temporary airport closures in Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest. A persistent layer of ice formed on Vienna Airport’s runways, repeatedly refreezing despite clearance efforts and causing multiple flight diversions.

Prague Airport also reported operating in “very limited mode” due to freezing rain, with staff working to de-ice the main runway and delays expected throughout the day.

Both Vienna and Bratislava airports were expected to reopen later in the morning, but the knock-on effects across the region were likely to persist.

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport also confirmed a temporary closure on Tuesday due to severe icing conditions.

In a statement, the airport said: “Due to the adverse weather conditions, and similarly to several airports in Central Europe, a temporary airport closure has been implemented at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, due to the increased safety risks caused by black ice and extreme icing.”

For safety reasons, all arrivals and departures were suspended from 10:25 local time, the airport added.

Due to the adverse weather conditions, and similarly to several airports in Central Europe, a temporary airport closure has been implemented at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, due to the increased safety risks caused by black ice and extreme icing. For safety… pic.twitter.com/bRza4uM0x8

— Budapest Airport (@budairport) January 13, 2026

Bratislava Airport also suspended all arrivals and departures on the morning of 13 January due to extreme weather conditions. According to an official airport notice, operations were halted until at least 11:15 AM local time after black ice rendered the runway unsafe. A crisis response team was convened to assess braking conditions and determine when the airport could safely resume operations. Passengers were advised to monitor the airport’s website, airline apps, and terminal announcements for real-time updates on flight status.

Update: Vienna Airport reopens after 11.5-hour shutdown

Vienna Airport has resumed operations after being closed for 11.5 hours due to severe black ice on the runways, according to a post by @flightradar24. The extended closure caused widespread flight delays and diversions across Central Europe.

As of now, flight operations are gradually restarting, but residual disruptions are expected to continue throughout the day.

Vienna Airport is open again after 11,5 hours without any flights. pic.twitter.com/AZtxO3Ujgr

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) January 13, 2026