Kraków airport fog diverts dozens of flights and cancels more than 13 arrivals

Disruption overview

Passengers traveling through Kraków-Balice faced diversions, bus transfers, and cancellations after dense fog disrupted flights over 7–8 November 2026, with problems continuing on Monday, 9 November. Dozens of aircraft landed at alternative airports in Poland and the Czech Republic, while airlines canceled more than 13 Sunday arrivals into Kraków. Monday's disruption included a Wizz Air flight to Tel Aviv delayed by around 4 hours, bus transport to Rzeszów for a Ryanair Palermo service, and the cancellation of Lufthansa's Frankfurt arrival. Weather-related compensation is unlikely, but you're still entitled to applicable support, including alternative travel or refunds for cancellations and care during long waits.

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Disruption details

Dense fog at John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice forced dozens of aircraft to divert over the weekend of 7–8 November 2026. Airlines also canceled more than 13 flights to Kraków on Sunday, with delays and cancellations continuing into Monday morning, 9 November.

For passengers, this meant landing at a different airport, continuing by bus, or waiting longer to depart. If you're traveling through Kraków, the disruption has affected services operated by Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Lufthansa.

Poor visibility prevented aircraft from landing as planned on both Saturday and Sunday. Diverted flights were sent to Katowice Airport, Wrocław Airport, Ostrava Airport in the Czech Republic, and Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport. A few aircraft were directed farther away, to Warsaw Chopin Airport and Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport.

Passengers on diverted services were transported by bus. There were brief improvements in the weather, allowing some aircraft that had initially diverted to Katowice to land in Kraków.

The disruption hadn't cleared by Monday morning. A Wizz Air departure to Tel Aviv was running around 4 hours late, while a Ryanair service to Palermo was listed for bus transport to Rzeszów following a diversion.

Lufthansa flight LH1370 from Frankfurt Airport was initially shown with a delay of several hours. Its arrival in Kraków was subsequently canceled.

An upgrade intended to help aircraft land in poorer visibility isn't expected to be available until spring 2027. Kraków airport's category II instrument landing system still needs certification before it can be used. Once available, it should allow landings in lower visibility and reduce diversions during fog.

Because fog and poor visibility are outside the airline's control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely for flights disrupted by this weather. That doesn't mean you're without support: airlines still have responsibilities to help you continue your journey and provide care while you wait.

If your flight is canceled, your airline should offer alternative travel or a refund if you decide not to continue. During a long delay, you may also be entitled to meals and refreshments. If you're left waiting overnight away from home, accommodation and transportation to it may be required. The support you're entitled to depends on your flight and circumstances.

Follow your airline's instructions about check-in, boarding, and any bus transfers. If you'd like to check whether compensation could apply to your particular flight, AirHelp's free flight checker can help you understand your eligibility.

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Information on this page is AI generated, but always checked by a (human) passenger right expert.