A cold front that swept across eastern Austria on 6 January left Vienna International Airport (VIE) scrambling to keep operations running. Aviation-data provider Flightera recorded that as of 16:30 CET, one in five departures and almost one in ten arrivals were running late, with average delays of 30 and 45 minutes respectively.([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-06/at/snow-and-staffing-issues-push-vienna-airport-departure-delays-to-20-on-6-january/?utm_source=openai))
Airport management blamed a combination of light snow, freezing temperatures that necessitated extensive de-icing, and a spike in sick leave among ramp crews who faced hazardous road conditions on their commute from Lower Austria. Only two de-icing pads are currently in service during VIE’s winter upgrade programme, limiting throughput.
![Snow and staff shortages trigger 20 % departure delays at Vienna Airport]()
Flag-carrier Austrian Airlines activated a voluntary rebooking policy, allowing passengers holding tickets for 7–9 January to switch flights at no extra cost. Corporate-travel managers should cross-check meeting schedules in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest—cities commonly fed via VIE—and warn staff about potential missed rail and coach connections onward from the airport.
If those schedule changes force travelers to adjust visas or entry documents—whether rerouting through another Schengen hub or extending their stay—VisaHQ can help smooth the process. Its Austria page (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) provides step-by-step guidance on Schengen visa requirements, fast-track processing options and live application tracking, letting passengers handle paperwork quickly while airlines and airports sort out weather-related disruptions.
While the meteorological impact is expected to subside within 24 hours, the incident highlights lingering staffing fragilities at ground-handling companies since the pandemic. Employers may wish to diversify arrival options—such as Linz or Graz airports—for critical assignee start dates during severe-weather periods.
Airport management blamed a combination of light snow, freezing temperatures that necessitated extensive de-icing, and a spike in sick leave among ramp crews who faced hazardous road conditions on their commute from Lower Austria. Only two de-icing pads are currently in service during VIE’s winter upgrade programme, limiting throughput.
Flag-carrier Austrian Airlines activated a voluntary rebooking policy, allowing passengers holding tickets for 7–9 January to switch flights at no extra cost. Corporate-travel managers should cross-check meeting schedules in Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest—cities commonly fed via VIE—and warn staff about potential missed rail and coach connections onward from the airport.
If those schedule changes force travelers to adjust visas or entry documents—whether rerouting through another Schengen hub or extending their stay—VisaHQ can help smooth the process. Its Austria page (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) provides step-by-step guidance on Schengen visa requirements, fast-track processing options and live application tracking, letting passengers handle paperwork quickly while airlines and airports sort out weather-related disruptions.
While the meteorological impact is expected to subside within 24 hours, the incident highlights lingering staffing fragilities at ground-handling companies since the pandemic. Employers may wish to diversify arrival options—such as Linz or Graz airports—for critical assignee start dates during severe-weather periods.
