Thousands of tourists are stranded in Finnish Lapland due to a severe cold snap that has grounded flights departing from one of its airports.
Departures from Kittila Airport in Lapland, which should have brought winter travelers back to places including London, Bristol, Manchester, Paris and Amsterdam, were all canceled on Sunday as temperatures did not rise above -35C on Sunday.
The problem is expected to continue on Monday, as the Finnish Meteorological Agency forecasts a low of -39°C. The first flight from Kittila has already been canceled.
Extreme cold makes it difficult to de-ice aircraft, while ground maintenance and refueling equipment can freeze.
Airport operator Finavia told public broadcaster Yle that humidity in the air was making the situation worse by creating slippery frost.
While Lapland – which spans northern Norway, Sweden and Finland – is known for its cold and snow, Finnish Lapland generally has an average winter temperature of -14°C, with occasional drops to -30°C, according to the country’s tourism board.
Kittila Airport mainly serves people wanting to travel to nearby ski resorts and view the Northern Lights, while Rovaniemi Airport, further south, is the “official” destination for visitors to Santa’s Folk House.
A flight was canceled from Rovaniemi on Sunday.
Flights to and from Kittila were also reportedly canceled on Friday and Saturday.
The cold weather has also made the roads particularly dangerous, with Fintraffic warning of icy conditions in the area.
A bus full of Ukrainian passengers fell into a ditch on Sunday morning, Yle reported, citing local police. No serious injuries were reported.
The unusual cold in Lapland comes as a storm passing northern Europe brought wintry conditions and disrupted travel in the UK, France and Germany.
A man was killed after a tree fell on his caravan in England, while around 100,000 homes were left without power on Saturday in France.
