A fierce winter storm swept across eastern Austria in the early hours of 20 February, dumping up to 20 centimetres of heavy, wet snow on the capital and paralysing one of Central Europe’s busiest aviation hubs. Shortly after 06:00 local time Vienna International Airport (VIE) suspended all departures and arrivals, citing “unsafe runway conditions” and poor visibility. By mid-morning more than 230 flights had been cancelled or diverted, affecting an estimated 28,000 passengers according to operator Flughafen Wien AG.
Airport spokesperson Peter Kleemann told Austrian public broadcaster ORF that limited take-offs might resume around noon, with landings following an hour later, but cautioned that “irregular operations and knock-on delays will last well into the weekend”. Airlines have been instructed not to dispatch further aircraft until ground handling teams can clear taxiways and de-ice parked jets. Travellers already in transit have been advised to rebook online instead of heading to the terminal, while those arriving on diverted services face overnight accommodation in Munich, Prague or Budapest.
Travellers rerouting through unexpected hubs or weighing extended stopovers should also double-check that their visas and travel documents remain valid. If changes mean an additional Schengen entry or a fresh transit permit, VisaHQ can fast-track the necessary paperwork online, provide real-time status updates and deliver digital copies straight to a smartphone—saving precious time during a chaotic travel week. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/austria/
![Snowstorm Shuts Vienna Airport, Strands Thousands of Travellers]()
The shutdown has wider network repercussions: Vienna serves as a hub for Austrian Airlines, several Star Alliance carriers and numerous Central-Eastern European regional routes that feed long-haul connections. Logistics analysts warn that missed cargo slots for life-science and auto-parts shipments could ripple through supply chains. Business travellers transferring between Western Europe and the Western Balkans are likely to bear the brunt, with limited alternative routings.
Vienna’s closure also exposes infrastructure resilience gaps. The airport lacks a fully enclosed de-icing facility, meaning all bays must be cleared sequentially when snowfall exceeds eight centimetres. Flughafen Wien had planned to commission a €180 million multi-bay de-icing centre in late 2025, but construction delays pushed completion to 2027. The incident may accelerate investment decisions and prompt airlines to reassess winter slot planning in the Danube corridor.
For corporate mobility managers the practical advice is clear: instruct employees to check flight status before departure, allow 24-48 hours’ buffer for onward meetings and consider rail alternatives on the Westbahn or ÖBB Railjet routes where capacity is still available—although these, too, are experiencing weather-related slowdowns.
Airport spokesperson Peter Kleemann told Austrian public broadcaster ORF that limited take-offs might resume around noon, with landings following an hour later, but cautioned that “irregular operations and knock-on delays will last well into the weekend”. Airlines have been instructed not to dispatch further aircraft until ground handling teams can clear taxiways and de-ice parked jets. Travellers already in transit have been advised to rebook online instead of heading to the terminal, while those arriving on diverted services face overnight accommodation in Munich, Prague or Budapest.
Travellers rerouting through unexpected hubs or weighing extended stopovers should also double-check that their visas and travel documents remain valid. If changes mean an additional Schengen entry or a fresh transit permit, VisaHQ can fast-track the necessary paperwork online, provide real-time status updates and deliver digital copies straight to a smartphone—saving precious time during a chaotic travel week. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/austria/
The shutdown has wider network repercussions: Vienna serves as a hub for Austrian Airlines, several Star Alliance carriers and numerous Central-Eastern European regional routes that feed long-haul connections. Logistics analysts warn that missed cargo slots for life-science and auto-parts shipments could ripple through supply chains. Business travellers transferring between Western Europe and the Western Balkans are likely to bear the brunt, with limited alternative routings.
Vienna’s closure also exposes infrastructure resilience gaps. The airport lacks a fully enclosed de-icing facility, meaning all bays must be cleared sequentially when snowfall exceeds eight centimetres. Flughafen Wien had planned to commission a €180 million multi-bay de-icing centre in late 2025, but construction delays pushed completion to 2027. The incident may accelerate investment decisions and prompt airlines to reassess winter slot planning in the Danube corridor.
For corporate mobility managers the practical advice is clear: instruct employees to check flight status before departure, allow 24-48 hours’ buffer for onward meetings and consider rail alternatives on the Westbahn or ÖBB Railjet routes where capacity is still available—although these, too, are experiencing weather-related slowdowns.
