Several airports in Europe have been forced to close and cancel their flights after severe icy weather.
Budapest Airport announced it would not be receiving flights from 10.25am local time (9.25am GMT) after heavy rain and ‘extreme’ ice.
In a post on Facebook, it said: ‘Due to black ice and extreme icing, Ferenc Liszt International Airport is temporarily not receiving and launching flights since 10:25 am for safety reasons. Budapest Airport will continue to provide updates on the developments; please follow the airport operator’s online platforms.’
Elsewhere in Hungary, meteorological services also issued alerts for freezing rain and snowfall after the freezing weather conditions swept through the country.
Trains and flights were experiencing delays, while authorities reported drift ice on the Danube and the Tisza rivers, where icebreakers have been put on alert.
Lake Balaton in the west of the country is currently frozen – a relatively rare phenomenon seen about once every ten to fifteen years.
However, authorities warned that the ice is still too thin for skating, urging the public to be cautious.
Meanwhille Airports in Prague, Vienna and Bratislava are also being affected by the cold weather sweeping through Europe.
A thick layer of ice, which kept refreezing after efforts to clear it, had formed on runways in Vienna forcing both the Vienna International Airport and Vaclav Havel Airport to divert flights this morning.
Vienna International Airport resumed departures from 11am local time (10am GMT), while arrivals will land again from 12pm local time.
Austria’s state railway company OeBB also asked travellers to postpone non-urgent journeys, with numerous train connections facing interruptions and cancellations.
In the Czech Republic, ice was also hampering road and rail traffic.
Prague airport came to a virtual standstill, with firefighters having to de-ice the runways.
Around 50 people were treated for injuries because of the icy conditions, according to Prague’s emergency services, the CTK news agency reported.
Freezing rain had left Prague Airport operating in a ‘very limited mode’, according to a message on its X account.
Delays were expected through the day and arrivals were being restricted as staff worked to de-ice the main runway, it added.
In neighbouring Slovakia, the Bratislava airport was also closed early Tuesday due to bad weather.
Slovak police on Facebook urged people to avoid travel because of ‘extreme’ ice and snow in the west of the country.
What are my rights if my flight has been cancelled?
In the UK and EU, airlines must look after you if your flight is delayed or cancelled. This includes everything from meals and accommodation to an alternative flight if necessary.
Citizen’s Advice says that airlines should also give impacted passengers access to phone calls and emails, and, if they offer you a place to stay, organise the journeys between the hotel and the airport.
Sometimes, the airline will cover this by handing you vouchers at the airport. When in doubt, keep any receipts for expenses and claim them back afterwards from the airline.
But an airline will only cough up money for ‘reasonable’ expenses.
If you didn’t book with a UK or EU airline, you’ll need to check their terms and conditions. However, for the most part, airlines should provide meals and accommodation as appropriate.
When am I eligible for this support?
Whether you’re eligible for the above depends on the distance of your flight and how long you have waited:
- For medium-haul (between 1,500km and 3,500km over two to four hours), it’s three hours or more.
- For long-haul (more than 3,500km over four hours or more), it’s four hours or more.
- For short-haul (up to 1,500km over two hours or less), you must have been waiting for two hours or more.
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