Vienna International Airport (VIE) suspended all take-offs and landings shortly after 07:00 CET on 13 January when a fast-moving band of freezing rain coated runways, taxiways and service roads in a layer of black ice. According to airport spokesperson Peter Kleemann, de-icing crews were "at full capacity since the night shift," but super-cooled drizzle re-froze almost instantly, forcing a complete operational stand-down until mid-day. More than 120 flights were cancelled in the first six hours, including Austrian Airlines’ morning bank of European departures and several long-haul services to the United States and Asia.
Because Vienna functions as a hub for Central-Eastern Europe, the knock-on effects were immediate. Business travellers heading to Bratislava, Budapest and the Balkans—many of whom rely on Vienna for same-day connections—found themselves stranded or re-routed through Munich, Frankfurt and Venice. Lufthansa Group carriers activated voluntary rebooking policies, while travel-management companies warned that hotel inventory around alternate airports was tightening rapidly.
Travel disruptions like these highlight the importance of having the right documents ready before any journey. VisaHQ can arrange expedited Schengen visas and provide up-to-date guidance on multi-entry options, ensuring travellers can reroute through alternative EU hubs without paperwork delays. Start your Austrian or Schengen application quickly and securely at https://www.visahq.com/austria/.
![Ice storm grounds all flights at Vienna Airport, creating Europe-wide mobility ripple]()
The storm also disrupted ground mobility. ÖBB halted rail links between Vienna Hauptbahnhof and the airport, and advised passengers to postpone non-essential journeys. Highways agency ASFINAG reduced speed limits on major arteries, and police reported dozens of minor collisions on the A2 and A21 motorways. Meteorologists at Austria’s Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG) said temperatures would remain around −2 °C until the evening, complicating clean-up efforts.
For corporate mobility managers, the incident is a reminder that weather-related shutdowns can paralyse a single-hub country like Austria. Experts recommend that internationally mobile staff register with their employer’s traveller-tracking system and keep at least one Schengen multi-entry visa valid, so diversions into neighbouring Germany or Italy do not create documentation headaches. Companies with time-sensitive cargo should also note that Vienna’s cargo terminal closed along with the passenger operation; perishables and high-tech components were diverted to Cologne-Bonn and Frankfurt.
Although VIE reopened one runway just after 13:00, airport authorities cautioned that de-icing backlogs would push the recovery well into 14 January. Passengers were urged not to proceed to the airport unless their flight was confirmed as operating.
Because Vienna functions as a hub for Central-Eastern Europe, the knock-on effects were immediate. Business travellers heading to Bratislava, Budapest and the Balkans—many of whom rely on Vienna for same-day connections—found themselves stranded or re-routed through Munich, Frankfurt and Venice. Lufthansa Group carriers activated voluntary rebooking policies, while travel-management companies warned that hotel inventory around alternate airports was tightening rapidly.
Travel disruptions like these highlight the importance of having the right documents ready before any journey. VisaHQ can arrange expedited Schengen visas and provide up-to-date guidance on multi-entry options, ensuring travellers can reroute through alternative EU hubs without paperwork delays. Start your Austrian or Schengen application quickly and securely at https://www.visahq.com/austria/.
The storm also disrupted ground mobility. ÖBB halted rail links between Vienna Hauptbahnhof and the airport, and advised passengers to postpone non-essential journeys. Highways agency ASFINAG reduced speed limits on major arteries, and police reported dozens of minor collisions on the A2 and A21 motorways. Meteorologists at Austria’s Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG) said temperatures would remain around −2 °C until the evening, complicating clean-up efforts.
For corporate mobility managers, the incident is a reminder that weather-related shutdowns can paralyse a single-hub country like Austria. Experts recommend that internationally mobile staff register with their employer’s traveller-tracking system and keep at least one Schengen multi-entry visa valid, so diversions into neighbouring Germany or Italy do not create documentation headaches. Companies with time-sensitive cargo should also note that Vienna’s cargo terminal closed along with the passenger operation; perishables and high-tech components were diverted to Cologne-Bonn and Frankfurt.
Although VIE reopened one runway just after 13:00, airport authorities cautioned that de-icing backlogs would push the recovery well into 14 January. Passengers were urged not to proceed to the airport unless their flight was confirmed as operating.
