TUI has made the decision to cancel the initial two departures for its newly introduced holiday package to Arctic Lakeland in Finland, citing insufficient snow as the main reason. This alternative destination, positioned 350 kilometers south of traditional Finnish Lapland, was marketed as a unique Christmas experience with direct flights from Manchester Airport, including three- and four-night Santa packages set to launch in December 2025 at competitive prices.
Currently, temperatures in the Arctic Lakeland area are around 1°C, leading to rain earlier this week instead of snowfall, which is critical for the winter activities typically associated with these trips. Customers scheduled for the first journey on December 3 received emails from TUI mentioning the weather monitoring efforts. However, just 48 hours before their departure, they were notified that the trip was cancelled due to the lack of snow and the forecasted rain.
One affected traveler shared their experience, stating that when informed of the cancellation, they were offered a full refund, a change of location, or the option to reschedule. They successfully booked an alternative trip to Levi for the same travel date. Another traveler noted receiving communication about the potential weather issues and was eventually granted a full refund.
Passengers slated for the second trip, departing on December 7, were similarly notified of their journey’s cancellation on December 5. TUI officially communicated, expressing regret over the situation and confirming that they found it impossible to deliver the promised Arctic Lakeland experience without sufficient snow.
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Customers impacted by the cancellations were offered several options: the chance to rebook for this winter or the next season at no extra cost, select another TUI holiday, or cancel and receive a complete refund. Additionally, TUI extended a gesture of goodwill to customers in the form of a £100 voucher per person for future travel.
The cancellations sparked concerns, particularly among potential travelers and local residents, about the mix-up between the advertised Arctic Lakeland and the perceived expectations of a full Lapland experience. Some travelers expressed confusion, commenting that terms like “Arctic Lapland” were misleading. While a few travel agents have chosen not to sell Arctic Lakeland packages due to doubts about the authenticity of the experience, others have positioned it as a cost-effective alternative, ensuring clients understand the differences.
Travel specialist Ashleigh Elliott, who previously had clients booked for the canceled flights, managed to find alternatives that provided better value than the original TUI offerings. Elliott highlighted the caution necessary when booking trips to the southern Lapland resorts before December 7, due to the risk of inadequate snow. She acknowledged that future bookings may need to be adjusted accordingly based on weather conditions.
Travel Gossip has reached out to TUI for further comments on the cancellations and the overall Arctic Lakeland program.
