A fast-moving Arctic front dubbed Storm Goretti barrelled into Czechia on the night of 10 January and unleashed up to 15 centimetres of snow in less than six hours. By 08:00 on 11 January, Prague’s Václav Havel Airport (PRG) had cancelled 17 departures on key business routes to Warsaw, Paris and Frankfurt and was warning travellers to arrive early, print boarding passes and monitor live gate changes. De-icing crews succeeded in keeping two runways open, but dozens of flights left several hours late, creating knock-on disruptions at European hubs. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/cz/heavy-snowstorm-grounds-flights-and-up-ends-business-itineraries-across-czechia/))
The snow quickly paralysed surface transport. Jack-knifed trucks closed stretches of the D5 and D6 motorways linking Czech suppliers with German customers, and Prague diverted trams 4 and 22 after ice jammed switching points. Regional bus lines reported hour-long delays, and Mountain Rescue Services issued avalanche warnings in the Krkonoše range, prompting several multinationals to cancel non-essential site visits and switch to virtual meetings. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/cz/heavy-snowstorm-grounds-flights-and-up-ends-business-itineraries-across-czechia/))
For travellers suddenly grappling with itinerary changes or looming visa deadlines, VisaHQ can remove much of the stress. Through its Czech Republic hub (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/), the platform lets users request Schengen extensions, invitation letters and other essential documents online, guiding them step-by-step so they can stay compliant while the storm-related backlogs clear.
![Heavy snowstorm grounds flights and up-ends business itineraries across Czechia]()
Airlines reacted by waiving change fees through 11 January, while Czech Railways announced that tickets dated 10–11 January could be used on later services without penalty. Logistics companies rerouted time-critical loads via Slovakia and Poland, adding up to 250 kilometres per journey but preserving just-in-time supply chains for the automotive and electronics sectors. Corporate travel managers are urging employees to build three-hour buffers into itineraries that involve PRG and to carry printed invitation letters in case diversions force unexpected border crossings. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/cz/heavy-snowstorm-grounds-flights-and-up-ends-business-itineraries-across-czechia/))
Business-immigration teams should also anticipate secondary effects. Foreign assignees whose 90-day visa-free Schengen stays expire this week may need emergency extensions if flights are further delayed, while clients attending biometrics appointments at Prague’s Interior Ministry campus should confirm slot availability before travelling. Mobility advisers recommend activating remote-work contingencies for Monday kick-off meetings and ensuring that rental cars are equipped with winter tyres and snow chains as temperatures are forecast to plunge to –8 °C, preserving black-ice hazards for several days. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/cz/heavy-snowstorm-grounds-flights-and-up-ends-business-itineraries-across-czechia/))
Although Czech infrastructure proved generally resilient, the storm underscores the importance of integrated travel-risk management. Companies with centralised dashboards that track flights, rail and road status in real time were able to push tailored alerts and rebookings to employees within minutes. Those still reliant on manual processes faced costly delays and missed client commitments, highlighting why extreme weather must now be treated as a core component of global-mobility compliance planning.
The snow quickly paralysed surface transport. Jack-knifed trucks closed stretches of the D5 and D6 motorways linking Czech suppliers with German customers, and Prague diverted trams 4 and 22 after ice jammed switching points. Regional bus lines reported hour-long delays, and Mountain Rescue Services issued avalanche warnings in the Krkonoše range, prompting several multinationals to cancel non-essential site visits and switch to virtual meetings. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/cz/heavy-snowstorm-grounds-flights-and-up-ends-business-itineraries-across-czechia/))
For travellers suddenly grappling with itinerary changes or looming visa deadlines, VisaHQ can remove much of the stress. Through its Czech Republic hub (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/), the platform lets users request Schengen extensions, invitation letters and other essential documents online, guiding them step-by-step so they can stay compliant while the storm-related backlogs clear.
Airlines reacted by waiving change fees through 11 January, while Czech Railways announced that tickets dated 10–11 January could be used on later services without penalty. Logistics companies rerouted time-critical loads via Slovakia and Poland, adding up to 250 kilometres per journey but preserving just-in-time supply chains for the automotive and electronics sectors. Corporate travel managers are urging employees to build three-hour buffers into itineraries that involve PRG and to carry printed invitation letters in case diversions force unexpected border crossings. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/cz/heavy-snowstorm-grounds-flights-and-up-ends-business-itineraries-across-czechia/))
Business-immigration teams should also anticipate secondary effects. Foreign assignees whose 90-day visa-free Schengen stays expire this week may need emergency extensions if flights are further delayed, while clients attending biometrics appointments at Prague’s Interior Ministry campus should confirm slot availability before travelling. Mobility advisers recommend activating remote-work contingencies for Monday kick-off meetings and ensuring that rental cars are equipped with winter tyres and snow chains as temperatures are forecast to plunge to –8 °C, preserving black-ice hazards for several days. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/cz/heavy-snowstorm-grounds-flights-and-up-ends-business-itineraries-across-czechia/))
Although Czech infrastructure proved generally resilient, the storm underscores the importance of integrated travel-risk management. Companies with centralised dashboards that track flights, rail and road status in real time were able to push tailored alerts and rebookings to employees within minutes. Those still reliant on manual processes faced costly delays and missed client commitments, highlighting why extreme weather must now be treated as a core component of global-mobility compliance planning.
