Ice Disrupts Flights Across Central Europe as Airports Halt Operations

Freezing rain and snow caused disruption across several Central European airports on Tuesday, with Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna temporarily suspending operations due to icy runways. Prague Airport also announced restricted activity as crews attempted to clear surfaces coated in ice. All four airports later resumed operations, but knock-on delays continued as crews cleared ice and managed diverted flights.

In Vienna, officials reported that heavy icing formed and repeatedly refroze despite mechanical clearing, forcing flight rerouting and prolonged closures during the morning peak. In Prague, the airport said it was running in a "very limited mode" before gradually restoring operations with warnings of ongoing delays. Bratislava and Budapest also paused flights before reopening, highlighting that their closures were strictly weather-related safety measures rather than technical failures.

Budapest Airport additionally confirmed that an Ethiopian Airlines cargo aircraft became stuck after its nose gear slid off a taxiway and onto grass, with an investigation ongoing. The incident coincided with the wider weather system affecting parts of Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and the Czech Republic, where freezing rain was accompanied by snow and strong winds. According to meteorologists, icy conditions were expected to continue through the day, with the risk of further disruption extending into the night.

Weather Impact Across Europe

• Snow and freezing rain across Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Romania
• Heavy snow forecast for southern Norway and Sweden
• Significant snowfall expected in Turkey and the Caucasus
• Mild air moving into western Europe later in the week
• Eastern regions remaining colder with overnight re-freezing

While Central Europe battled ice, the UK’s Met Office issued yellow ice warnings for parts of Scotland, as well as rain alerts in southwest England following Storm Goretti and ongoing flood concerns. With milder air pushing in from the west later in the week, weather services expect gradual stabilisation across much of Europe. For those travelling, this spell underlines how winter weather can quickly reshape plans, with airport closures, diversions and ground handling delays becoming part of January’s seasonal reality.