diff --git a/examples/python/bufr_encode_flight.py b/examples/python/bufr_encode_flight.py
index 0491cb310..cc302f125 100644
--- a/examples/python/bufr_encode_flight.py
+++ b/examples/python/bufr_encode_flight.py
@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ from eccodes import *
 
 VERBOSE = 1  # verbose error reporting
 
+def parse_date(x):
+    return datetime.strptime(x.decode('ascii'), '%Y%m%d')
+
+
+def parse_time(x):
+    return datetime.strptime(x.decode('ascii'), '%H:%M:%S')
+
 
 def example(csvfile, input_filename, output_filename):
     fbufrin = open(input_filename, 'rb')
@@ -29,8 +36,6 @@ def example(csvfile, input_filename, output_filename):
 
     # The first line in the CSV has the column names
     print('Reading input CSV file: ', csvfile)
-    parse_date = lambda x: datetime.strptime(x.decode('ascii'), '%Y%m%d')
-    parse_time = lambda x: datetime.strptime(x.decode('ascii'), '%H:%M:%S')
     data = np.genfromtxt(csvfile, delimiter=',', dtype=None, names=True,
                          converters={0: parse_date, 1: parse_time})
 
@@ -87,6 +92,9 @@ def example(csvfile, input_filename, output_filename):
     codes_write(bufr, fbufrout)
     print('Created output BUFR file: ', output_filename)
 
+    fbufrin.close()
+    fbufrout.close()
+
 
 def main():
     if len(sys.argv) < 4: