Can Rovaniemi Airport clear 1,000 stranded tourists after Storm Hannes?

The severe fallout from Winter Storm Hannes flight delays continues to impact air travel in Northern Finland. An estimated 1,000 passengers are still stranded at Rovaniemi Airport (RVN). This major Lapland holiday travel disruption follows a weekend of intense weather. Finavia, the Finnish airport operator, confirmed about 20 flights were canceled or delayed. These backlogs extended into Monday, December 29, 2025.

Background and Operational Impact

The storm, named Hannes in Finland, hit the region on Saturday, December 27. It brought heavy snow and severe crosswinds to Lapland. Air traffic was officially suspended at Rovaniemi Airport for several hours. Operations were halted from 4:00 PM until 10:40 PM local time. Nearby Kittilä and Ivalo airports also faced temporary closures. The severe Arctic weather conditions made safe landings impossible. Two separate aircraft even veered off the taxiway at Kittilä Airport.

Finavia staff worked diligently to resume air traffic safely. The airport faced a massive challenge in clearing the backlog. The disruption occurred during the peak holiday season chaos. This is when thousands visit for the popular Santa Season festivities.

Challenges in Recovery

The ripple effects of the storm have slowed recovery efforts. Airlines must manage complex aircraft repositioning challenges. They also face strict crew rest requirements mandated by regulators like EASA. Lapland is a remote, seasonal destination for many carriers. This makes securing replacement aircraft or crews difficult on short notice.

Rovaniemi Airport stranded tourists faced immediate accommodation issues. Local media reported that hotels in the city were already fully booked. This was due to the high volume of winter tourism. To ease overcrowding, Finavia reopened an older, out-of-service terminal area. The Finnish Red Cross provided blankets and mattresses to those waiting overnight.

Finavia's Senior Vice President, Henri Hansson, noted that airlines are responsible for passenger arrangements. This includes temporary accommodation and replacement transport. The incident has raised questions locally. Stakeholders are asking about the region’s contingency capacity. They seek better preparedness for increasingly extreme weather events. The disruption highlights the vulnerability of seasonal air travel hubs. It demonstrates the need for robust contingency planning in commercial aviation news and operations.

• Over 1,000 travelers were stranded by Monday, December 29.
• Rovaniemi Airport was closed for over six hours on Saturday.
• Finavia reopened an older terminal to manage passenger overcrowding.
• The incident occurred during the critical peak 'Santa Season'.

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