The winter storm that battered Western Europe swept into Poland on 7–8 January, paralysing domestic transport just as executives resumed post-holiday travel. Warsaw Chopin Airport logged six cancellations and more than 230 delays; Kraków–Balice recorded eight cancellations and 45 delays, and LOT diverted two Boeing 737 MAX flights to Katowice and Poznań. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/pl/storm-goretti-cripples-polish-air-and-rail-networks-derailing-post-holiday-business-travel/))
Rail passengers fared little better: PKP Intercity services on north–south corridors ran up to 90 minutes late while parts of the S7 expressway crawled under fresh snowfall. A Europe-wide de-icing-fluid shortage exacerbated apron queues, leaving aircraft on the ground until crew duty times expired. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/pl/storm-goretti-cripples-polish-air-and-rail-networks-derailing-post-holiday-business-travel/))
![Storm Goretti cripples Polish air and rail networks, disrupting post-holiday mobility]()
Amid these cascading delays, travellers suddenly rerouted through unfamiliar hubs may discover they need unexpected transit visas or fresh residence documentation. VisaHQ can shoulder that administrative burden, fast-tracking urgent Schengen or UK transit permissions and guiding companies through Poland’s new MOS e-filing rules in one streamlined dashboard. Corporate mobility teams can start immediately via the dedicated Polish portal at https://www.visahq.com/poland/, where passport uploads, real-time status tracking, and proactive alerts help keep weather-disrupted itineraries compliant and on schedule.
For mobility managers the timing is awkward. Many had scheduled employee moves to coincide with Poland’s new MOS e-filing rules; missed onboarding sessions now require costly reroutes, often via Scandinavian hubs only marginally less affected by the weather. Travel insurers report a spike in claims for hotel nights and missed-connection costs. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/pl/storm-goretti-cripples-polish-air-and-rail-networks-derailing-post-holiday-business-travel/))
Airports expect operations to normalise by 9 January, but carriers urge travellers to build generous buffers and verify that insurance covers extreme weather. Companies with heavy intra-EU travel should revisit duty-of-care policies, ensure staff carry proof of residence when re-booking via non-Schengen hubs and consider flexible tickets during the peak winter-weather window. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/pl/storm-goretti-cripples-polish-air-and-rail-networks-derailing-post-holiday-business-travel/))
Rail passengers fared little better: PKP Intercity services on north–south corridors ran up to 90 minutes late while parts of the S7 expressway crawled under fresh snowfall. A Europe-wide de-icing-fluid shortage exacerbated apron queues, leaving aircraft on the ground until crew duty times expired. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/pl/storm-goretti-cripples-polish-air-and-rail-networks-derailing-post-holiday-business-travel/))
Amid these cascading delays, travellers suddenly rerouted through unfamiliar hubs may discover they need unexpected transit visas or fresh residence documentation. VisaHQ can shoulder that administrative burden, fast-tracking urgent Schengen or UK transit permissions and guiding companies through Poland’s new MOS e-filing rules in one streamlined dashboard. Corporate mobility teams can start immediately via the dedicated Polish portal at https://www.visahq.com/poland/, where passport uploads, real-time status tracking, and proactive alerts help keep weather-disrupted itineraries compliant and on schedule.
For mobility managers the timing is awkward. Many had scheduled employee moves to coincide with Poland’s new MOS e-filing rules; missed onboarding sessions now require costly reroutes, often via Scandinavian hubs only marginally less affected by the weather. Travel insurers report a spike in claims for hotel nights and missed-connection costs. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/pl/storm-goretti-cripples-polish-air-and-rail-networks-derailing-post-holiday-business-travel/))
Airports expect operations to normalise by 9 January, but carriers urge travellers to build generous buffers and verify that insurance covers extreme weather. Companies with heavy intra-EU travel should revisit duty-of-care policies, ensure staff carry proof of residence when re-booking via non-Schengen hubs and consider flexible tickets during the peak winter-weather window. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/pl/storm-goretti-cripples-polish-air-and-rail-networks-derailing-post-holiday-business-travel/))
