Jakub and Iva Kollar, along with other travelers, are stranded in Greenland after SAS canceled all international flights due to the airport losing its certification. With no alternative travel options or available accommodations, frustration mounts as SAS provides limited assistance. The situation may take days to resolve, leaving passengers uncertain about their return to Sweden.
Stranded in Greenland: SAS Flight Cancellations Leave Travelers in Limbo
Stranded in Greenland: SAS Flight Cancellations Leave Travelers in Limbo
Jakub Kollar was scheduled to fly home from Greenland with SAS on Wednesday. However, all international flights were canceled.
Jakub Kollar, 34, and his wife Iva, 33, were on vacation in Greenland and planned to return to Sweden on Wednesday.
But then came the unexpected announcement from the Danish Transport Authority: all international flights were halted from the Greenlandic capital as the airport lost its certification for international flights.
Jakub and Iva received a text message from SAS on Tuesday evening.
– They wrote that there are no alternative travel options and that they cannot assist us, he says.
Many travelers are now stranded in Greenland, and hotels in Nuuk are fully booked.
– We were looking forward to going home. Everything here is beautiful, but the uncertainty is stressful. There are no hotels left; we managed to book a room for one night, but then we don't know what to do, he says.
Criticism of SAS
Now he is disappointed with the airline. Throughout the morning, he has been chatting with SAS but wishes he had received more information and help.
– I am critical of them just sending automated emails, like: 'here's a link to read about your rights.' But this isn't Germany where you can get to another airport in 30 minutes, he says, adding:
– They could have helped us with hotels and provided some form of forecast. It's very unprofessional to just send out a text message. We are in contact with another Swedish family here, and they have the same experience, says Jakub.
Could Be Stranded for Days
Jakub has also contacted Greenlandic authorities, who state they are working to resolve the issue, but it may take days.
Travelers have been referred to smaller airports, 320 or 450 kilometers away. But according to Jakub, that's not an option, as there are no flights to Copenhagen from there.
– No matter what we do, we can't solve this ourselves. SAS must resolve this, for example, by picking us up at another airport. Otherwise, we'll have to wait it out, says Jakub.
Both he and his wife are now missing work back in Sweden.
– The plan was to return to work, but that didn't happen. We've informed our employer that we might not come, he says.
SAS's Response
SAS tells Expressen that they have a contact list of all passengers whom they are informing continuously.
– We release information as soon as we can, but we can't do it before we know something, as it would lead to many different messages. Right now, we are working very hard with all parties to get the flights going again, says Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji, SAS's press chief.
According to SAS, international flights may soon resume.
– It's not really in our control. But now Nuuk Airport says they may have resolved the security situation, and then we will be able to fly again. Right now, we are in a bit of a vacuum until we get a proper answer. But we will absolutely do our best for our passengers, either by getting them on another flight or reinstating this flight, says Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji.