Arctic Cold Halts Flights at Kittila Airport, Stranding Thousands of Tourists
Key Points
- 1Thousands of tourists were stranded after Kittila Airport cancelled flights for a third consecutive day.
- 2Arctic cold temperatures reached as low as -39C, making ground operations, de-icing, and refuelling impossible.
- 3Finavia confirmed that frozen ground equipment connectors and hatches were the primary operational challenge.
- 4Affected flights included major international services to London, Paris, and Amsterdam.
Thousands of tourists are stranded in Lapland. All flights at Finland’s Kittila Airport were cancelled. This was due to an extreme cold aviation operations crisis. Temperatures dropped as low as -39C on Monday. Conditions did not improve past -35C on Sunday. This marks the third day of severe disruption.
Operational Crisis in Lapland: Finavia's Statement
Airport operator Finavia confirmed the severe challenges. They noted conditions near -40C can cause significant issues. The Kittila airport Arctic cold was made worse by air moisture. This created a slippery, hazardous frost. Ground equipment connectors and vehicle hatches froze over. This made essential refuelling and de-icing impossible.
Finavia stated that airlines make the final cancellation decisions. The airport remains open for customers. However, the runways have been empty for three days. Finavia apologized for the inconvenience caused. They are working with airlines to minimize the impact.
Impact on European Air Travel
The Lapland airport flight cancellations affected numerous routes. Flights back to major European cities were grounded. These included London, Bristol, Manchester, Paris, and Amsterdam.
Domestic travel was also impacted by the cold snap. One flight between Helsinki and Rovaniemi flight grounded. Finnair reportedly cancelled 23 flights to or from Kittila on Sunday alone.
Lapland is a key destination for winter tourism. Millions visit the region annually, especially during the festive period. This severe cold wave is affecting travel across Europe. At least six deaths were reported in other parts of the continent.
Safety and Cold Weather Procedures
Safety is the top priority for airlines and Finavia. Extreme cold directly affects aircraft systems. It also impacts ground support equipment. The de-icing difficulties Lapland faced were critical.
Icing contamination on aircraft surfaces must be removed. This is part of the “Clean Wing” concept. Ice build-up severely compromises an aircraft's performance. It can reduce lift and stability. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) provides guidelines. These stress proper crew training for winter operations.
Ground handling teams must maintain specialized equipment. This prevents breakdowns in the cold. The Finavia ground operations challenges highlight this risk. Finavia expects slightly milder temperatures soon. This should help restore normal operations. For more commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.
Advice for Stranded Tourists
Stranded tourists Finland have been advised to act quickly. They should contact their airlines immediately. This is necessary to discuss rebooking their flights. Passengers must also arrange alternative accommodation. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) encourages direct communication. This ensures passengers receive the latest updates. Aircraft manufacturers like Airbus also provide cold-weather operational limits. These must be strictly followed by all carriers.
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