A burst of freezing drizzle overnight turned highways across southern Finland into ice rinks on Saturday, 24 January, triggering dozens of accidents and forcing logistics firms to re-route time-sensitive deliveries to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. The Finnish Meteorological Institute issued a top-tier road-weather warning for the Uusimaa and Kanta-Häme regions, while police urged motorists to postpone non-essential travel.
The chaos rippled quickly into the mobility supply chain. Finavia confirmed that several airport coaches and crew-shuttle services were delayed by up to 90 minutes as operators switched to grit-treated secondary roads. DHL and Posti both reported slower-than-normal line-haul departures from their Vantaa hubs, warning e-commerce clients of possible next-day delivery slips.
For travellers still needing to reach or depart Finland despite the icy setbacks, VisaHQ offers a streamlined way to verify visa requirements, secure expedited visas, and manage travel documentation online. Their Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) provides up-to-date guidance and can save hours otherwise lost to embassy visits—an invaluable buffer when weather throws schedules into disarray.
![Icy Roads Snarl Southern Finland, Disrupting Airport Transfers and Cargo Haulage]()
Ride-hailing apps in the capital region showed surge prices of more than 2.0× normal fares during the morning peak, reflecting a shortage of willing drivers. Business travellers attempting trans-Atlantic connections missed at least three departures, according to handling agents, highlighting the vulnerability of Finland’s export economy to weather-driven last-mile disruptions.
Authorities said the treacherous conditions are likely to persist for several days as daytime highs remain below −5 °C and melting is minimal. Trucking associations are calling on shippers to build extra buffers into just-in-time schedules and to consider rail alternatives for unitised cargo where possible. Employers were also reminded that Finland’s Working Hours Act allows remote work recommendations in the event of severe travel hazards, an option many multinationals activated during the cold snap.
Although winter driving is a fact of life in Finland, the timing—just ahead of Monday’s peak business-travel window—makes this episode particularly disruptive. Mobility managers are advised to monitor FMI alerts and to pre-book contingency accommodation near Helsinki-Vantaa for critical staff until road-salt stocks and rising temperatures restore normal surface friction.
The chaos rippled quickly into the mobility supply chain. Finavia confirmed that several airport coaches and crew-shuttle services were delayed by up to 90 minutes as operators switched to grit-treated secondary roads. DHL and Posti both reported slower-than-normal line-haul departures from their Vantaa hubs, warning e-commerce clients of possible next-day delivery slips.
For travellers still needing to reach or depart Finland despite the icy setbacks, VisaHQ offers a streamlined way to verify visa requirements, secure expedited visas, and manage travel documentation online. Their Finland portal (https://www.visahq.com/finland/) provides up-to-date guidance and can save hours otherwise lost to embassy visits—an invaluable buffer when weather throws schedules into disarray.
Ride-hailing apps in the capital region showed surge prices of more than 2.0× normal fares during the morning peak, reflecting a shortage of willing drivers. Business travellers attempting trans-Atlantic connections missed at least three departures, according to handling agents, highlighting the vulnerability of Finland’s export economy to weather-driven last-mile disruptions.
Authorities said the treacherous conditions are likely to persist for several days as daytime highs remain below −5 °C and melting is minimal. Trucking associations are calling on shippers to build extra buffers into just-in-time schedules and to consider rail alternatives for unitised cargo where possible. Employers were also reminded that Finland’s Working Hours Act allows remote work recommendations in the event of severe travel hazards, an option many multinationals activated during the cold snap.
Although winter driving is a fact of life in Finland, the timing—just ahead of Monday’s peak business-travel window—makes this episode particularly disruptive. Mobility managers are advised to monitor FMI alerts and to pre-book contingency accommodation near Helsinki-Vantaa for critical staff until road-salt stocks and rising temperatures restore normal surface friction.
