Kittilä, Finland , 12 January (H.S.): A brutal cold snap gripping Finnish Lapland has stranded thousands of international tourists, grounding all flights at Kittilä Airport for the third consecutive day on Sunday, with disruptions poised to persist into Monday.

Temperatures plunged to minus 35°C at the airport, preventing safe de-icing of aircraft and freezing ground equipment like refueling hoses and vehicle doors, according to airport operator Finavia.

Operational Chaos and Airline Disruptions

Finnair bore the brunt, cancelling 23 flights on Sunday—including 15 international routes to destinations such as London, Manchester, Bristol, Paris, and Amsterdam, plus eight domestic services—while one Rovaniemi-Helsinki round-trip was also axed.

KLM scrapped two flights at Kittilä, contributing to 14 total cancellations there alongside 4 delays, as moisture-laden air exacerbated slippery frost on runways.

Finavia emphasized that cancellation decisions rest with airlines, but extreme cold around minus 40°C renders ground operations untenable, affecting primarily winter visitors bound for ski resorts and Northern Lights viewing.

Broader Regional and Weather Impacts

Lapland's average winter temperatures hover at minus 14°C, with dips to minus 30°C not uncommon, but this week's anomaly—forecast lows of minus 39°C on Monday—marks an exceptional test for infrastructure, far exceeding norms per Finland's tourism board.

Hazardous icy roads compounded woes, as Fintraffic issued warnings; a bus carrying Ukrainian passengers skidded into a ditch Sunday morning, though no serious injuries ensued, local police reported via Yle.

Nearby Rovaniemi Airport, gateway to Santa Claus Village, saw one cancellation Sunday, with operations otherwise stable across other Lapland hubs.

Continental Ripple Effects and Traveler Advice

This Lapland deep freeze coincides with a northern European storm unleashing wintry havoc, including a fatal tree fall on a caravan in England and 100,000 French homes powerless Saturday.

Stranded passengers, largely Britons and Europeans, face limited alternatives in the remote region; Finavia urged contacting airlines for rebooking, accommodations, or compensation, as authorities prioritize safety amid the crisis. Forecasts indicate the cold snap may ease later this week, potentially restoring flights soon.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar