A brutal Arctic cold snap paralysed air links to one of Finland’s busiest winter tourism hubs on Sunday, 11 January 2026. Temperatures plunged to –37 °C at Kittilä Airport, making it impossible for ground crews to de-ice aircraft or operate refuelling equipment safely. Finavia, the state-owned airport operator, closed the runway shortly after dawn and issued a blanket cancellation notice that affected every commercial flight scheduled for the day.
Finnair cancelled 23 services—15 international charters from the UK, Germany and France and eight domestic rotations to Helsinki and Tampere. Low-cost carriers and seasonal charter operators followed suit. By midday, an estimated 4,000 passengers were stuck in resort towns across western Lapland with few alternative transport options; road coaches faced axle-freeze warnings and the night train from Kolari was fully booked within hours. Local hoteliers reported occupancy rates of 120 % as stranded travellers extended stays, while ski-resort employers scrambled to house seasonal staff whose inbound flights were scrubbed.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) warned that the deep freeze will intensify, forecasting lows of –40 °C on Monday. Although Finland is accustomed to harsh winters, this is the coldest spell to hit Lapland since 2016. Finavia said its de-icing pads can normally cope down to –34 °C, but hydraulic fluid starts to gel and glycol becomes ineffective at lower temperatures. The operator has flown in extra heaters and ground power units from Helsinki for a planned phased reopening on Tuesday, weather permitting.
![Deep freeze grounds all flights at Kittilä Airport, stranding thousands in Finnish Lapland]()
Tourism officials are urging travellers with bookings over the next 48 hours to monitor airline apps and consider rail alternatives via Rovaniemi or Oulu. Corporations with incentive groups in Levi and Ylläs have triggered contingency plans that include chartering buses to reach overnight trains. Travel-risk advisers say businesses should factor extreme-cold thresholds into winter event planning and ensure employees carry EU Digital Driving Permits in case last-mile car hire is required.
For those planning upcoming trips—whether for skiing under normal conditions or braving the Arctic chill—securing the right travel documents early can save time and stress. VisaHQ’s Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) streamlines applications for Schengen visas, ETIAS waivers and other consular paperwork, providing clear instructions, digital forms and optional courier services so travellers can focus on adapting itineraries rather than navigating bureaucracy.
Beyond the immediate disruption, analysts note that Kittilä’s shutdown underscores the vulnerability of Finland’s northern tourism economy to climate volatility at both ends of the spectrum—mild winters that threaten snow reliability and, increasingly, ultra-cold snaps that cripple infrastructure.
Finnair cancelled 23 services—15 international charters from the UK, Germany and France and eight domestic rotations to Helsinki and Tampere. Low-cost carriers and seasonal charter operators followed suit. By midday, an estimated 4,000 passengers were stuck in resort towns across western Lapland with few alternative transport options; road coaches faced axle-freeze warnings and the night train from Kolari was fully booked within hours. Local hoteliers reported occupancy rates of 120 % as stranded travellers extended stays, while ski-resort employers scrambled to house seasonal staff whose inbound flights were scrubbed.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) warned that the deep freeze will intensify, forecasting lows of –40 °C on Monday. Although Finland is accustomed to harsh winters, this is the coldest spell to hit Lapland since 2016. Finavia said its de-icing pads can normally cope down to –34 °C, but hydraulic fluid starts to gel and glycol becomes ineffective at lower temperatures. The operator has flown in extra heaters and ground power units from Helsinki for a planned phased reopening on Tuesday, weather permitting.
Tourism officials are urging travellers with bookings over the next 48 hours to monitor airline apps and consider rail alternatives via Rovaniemi or Oulu. Corporations with incentive groups in Levi and Ylläs have triggered contingency plans that include chartering buses to reach overnight trains. Travel-risk advisers say businesses should factor extreme-cold thresholds into winter event planning and ensure employees carry EU Digital Driving Permits in case last-mile car hire is required.
For those planning upcoming trips—whether for skiing under normal conditions or braving the Arctic chill—securing the right travel documents early can save time and stress. VisaHQ’s Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) streamlines applications for Schengen visas, ETIAS waivers and other consular paperwork, providing clear instructions, digital forms and optional courier services so travellers can focus on adapting itineraries rather than navigating bureaucracy.
Beyond the immediate disruption, analysts note that Kittilä’s shutdown underscores the vulnerability of Finland’s northern tourism economy to climate volatility at both ends of the spectrum—mild winters that threaten snow reliability and, increasingly, ultra-cold snaps that cripple infrastructure.
