Extreme cold disrupts flights in northern Finland

Thousands of passengers are currently stranded in Lapland. Dozens of flights have since Saturday been cancelled.

“Severe frost and winter conditions slow down work in outdoor areas, and for companies operating on the apron in particular, the current weather conditions and temperatures of around -40 degrees Celsius can cause challenges,” Finnish airport operator Finavia said in a statement. 

Scheduled flights to Kittilä airport from European hubs like Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Brussels, Vienna, Paris and London were all canceled on Sunday.

Finavia hopes traffic at both Kittilä and Rovaniemi can return to normal later on Monday.

“In addition to the severe frost, there is moisture in the air, especially in the Kittilä area, which is exceptional at such low temperatures. The severe frost and moisture in the air intensify the effects caused by the weather,” the officials said.

Passengers to closely follow the information provided by their airline or tour operator.

Currently, the biggest challenge is related to de-icing, which is carried out before an aircraft takes off. The de-icing agents used at airports are always used in accordance with global standards and limit values for chemicals. De-icing is carried out by airlines together with ground handling companies.