In brief
As plummeting temperatures in Lapland reach as low as -39C, thousands of tourists find themselves stranded at Kittila airport with their flights grounded. The extreme cold has compounded difficulties with de-icing planes and operating maintenance equipment, while hazardous road conditions have been reported, with incidents such as a bus carrying Ukrainian passengers driving into a ditch. The unusual frigid weather coincides with storms affecting northern Europe, leading to travel disruptions in multiple regions.
A severe cold spell has led to widespread flight cancellations at Kittila airport, leaving thousands of tourists stranded in Finland's Lapland.
On Sunday, all departures, which included flights to major destinations such as London, Bristol, and Amsterdam, were canceled as temperatures plummeted below -35C. With forecasts predicting further drops to -39C, the disruptions are expected to continue.
The freezing temperatures have hindered efforts to de-ice planes and operate ground equipment, further complicating the situation.
Finavia, the airport operator, noted that high humidity has exacerbated conditions, leading to dangerously slippery frost.
While Lapland is no stranger to cold weather, these recent extremes have raised concerns. Kittila airport primarily caters to winter sports enthusiasts and tourists attracted to the Northern Lights.
Road conditions have also been reported as treacherous, prompting warnings from local authorities. A bus with Ukrainian passengers skidded into a ditch, although no serious injuries were reported.
This extreme weather coincides with widespread severe conditions across northern Europe, with additional travel disruptions impacting countries like the UK, France, and Germany.
