Extreme cold disrupts flights in northern Finland
Flight cancellations continue Monday at Kittilä and Rovaniemi airports due to very severe frost.
Thousands of passengers are currently stranded in Lapland. Dozens of flights have been cancelled since Saturday.
"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 cancelled 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 are advised 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.
Finavia assures that safety is always of paramount importance.
"The companies operating at the airport and the airlines will not compromised on safety under any circumstances. If pre-flight activities cannot be carried out in accordance with the criteria, airlines may have to cancel their flights to ensure safety."
