Thousands of holidaymakers have been left stranded in Finland's Arctic Lapland region after a severe cold snap forced the cancellation of numerous flights. The extreme conditions, with temperatures plunging to nearly -40 degrees Celsius, have made airport operations impossible.
Arctic Freeze Halts Airport Operations
The crisis began when temperatures at Kittila Airport, a key gateway for tourists visiting Lapland's ski resorts and Northern Lights destinations, plummeted to -37C (-34.6F) on Sunday morning. This followed several days of intensely cold weather across the region.
Airport officials confirmed that the extreme conditions rendered standard procedures like aircraft de-icing, routine maintenance, and refuelling extremely difficult, if not impossible. The Finnish Meteorological Institute has warned that the deep freeze is expected to continue, with predictions of temperatures hitting almost -40C (-40F).
Tourist Hotspot Paralyzed
The cancellations have caused significant disruption at Kittila Airport, located in the sparsely populated north of Finnish Lapland. The airport serves as a critical hub for tourists heading to nearby winter sports centres and aurora borealis viewing spots.
Affected flights included services to major European cities such as London, Manchester, Paris, and Amsterdam. The first scheduled flight for Monday was pre-emptively cancelled on Sunday night as the cold showed no sign of relenting.
While Finns are accustomed to harsh winters, this year's cold spell is notably more severe than average. The region's tourism board states that typical winter averages are around -14C (6.8F), with occasional dips to -30C. The current sustained temperatures far exceed these norms.
Wider European Travel Chaos
The travel disruption extends far beyond Lapland's airports. Within the region, heavy snowfall, high winds, and icy roads have made local travel treacherous. The severe weather is part of a wider system affecting northern, central, and eastern Europe.
In Germany, train passengers faced continued delays and cancellations on Sunday. This followed rail operator Deutsche Bahn's decision to shut down all services in the country's north on Friday due to heavy snow. Authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, announced that all schools would remain closed on Monday, switching to online classes because of forecasts for dangerously icy roads.
The Baltic states are also on high alert. Authorities in Estonia and Lithuania have advised drivers to postpone all non-essential travel due to expected blizzards, while neighbouring Latvia has issued a formal snow alert for its western regions.
The situation leaves many international tourists, including Britons, facing an uncertain wait in the Arctic cold as airlines and authorities work to resume services when conditions eventually improve.
