Flights are set to resume at Finland’s Kittilä Airport today after extreme cold temperatures forced cancellations over the weekend, stranding tourists in Finnish Lapland.
Departures to destinations in Europe and the UK were grounded as temperatures fell below -35C, which made aircraft de-icing and other operations impossible.
Temperatures in Kittilä – which serves as the gateway to the resort of Levi in Finnish Lapland – are expected to rise to around -16C tomorrow, according to the latest forecast.
The airport’s website is now showing UK arrivals from Gatwick and Manchester later today, though both have been delayed.
A Titan Airways flight from Gatwick was scheduled to arrive at 4pm local time, but is estimated to arrive at 5pm. The Manchester Jet2 charter flight is due to arrive at 4.25pm, but is now estimated to arrive at 8pm.
Departures are also due to operate this afternoon.
As a result of the weather, some passengers were transferred to alternative airports over the weekend.
Inghams confirmed that it had to move two flights from yesterday until today, and the in-resort team were rearranging any pre-booked excursions.
Guests were also offered the option to move their holiday to a later date this season, or for those on short breaks to a new date next season for free.
A spokesperson for Inghams explained: “On Sunday, with Kittilä airport closed due to extreme cold weather conditions, our team were able to successfully divert one flight to Ivalo airport, with two further charter flights due to operate today instead of yesterday to return guests to the UK.
“Our in-resort team have secured additional accommodation for guests needing extra nights in resort, and we will continue to monitor the situation, making further contingency plans if necessary.”
TUI also confirmed it re-routed a flight via Ivalo on Saturday.
A spokesperson said: “Due to extremely low temperatures at Kittilä Airport, conditions have fallen below the allowable limits for aircraft de-icing. As a result, one flight – TOM4768/9 on 10 January – was rerouted to operate via Ivalo Airport.
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew remain our top priority, and we appreciate their understanding and patience during these weather-related disruptions affecting the airport and the airline community.”
EasyJet rescheduled Saturday’s flight from Kittila to Gatwick until today and provided hotel accommodation and meals for those who required them.
A spokesperson confirmed: “We are planning to operate our flying programme to and from Kittila and Rovaniemi as planned today (Monday) but continue to monitor the weather.”
Finnair, which operates flights to Kittilä via Helsinki, said it cancelled most of its flights to the airport over the weekend.
A spokesperson added: “Most of our customers were rerouted on our flights to/from Oulu during the weekend, from where we arranged ground transportation for them between Oulu and Kittilä.
“Some customers from yesterday’s cancelled Kittilä flights were rerouted on our Kittilä-Helsinki flights today and tomorrow, as we now expect to be able to operate those normally.”
