ACCOMMODATION: Fisherman Andreas Heimark prepares for a night at the airport. Photo: Ronald Johansen, iTromsø
After five weeks in the Barents Sea in the boat “Vestkapp”, fisherman Andreas Heimark (22) had hoped to get home to Austevoll.
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Now it will be a night at the airport instead.
Stretchers and blankets are prepared so that 200 travelers can spend the night.
– I have been fishing in both the Russian and Norwegian zones. It was fierce and bad weather, and then I come here to even worse weather, says the westerner to VG.
He arrived at the airport at 11 a.m. on Thursday, and the flight home does not leave until around 5 p.m. on Friday. Thus he prepares for around 30 hours at Tromsø Airport Langnes.
WEATHERPROOF: Ulrik Bergerud (20), Sunniva Leikanger (20) and Ole Mathias Hetlesæther (22) Photo: Private
– The others traveled back into Tromsø to have some beer. But I couldn’t take it.
At the airport, ha listens to music, reads articles about fishing boats and sends messages home to his family where, according to himself, he sulks and complains that he is stuck at the airport.
– But you’re used to being at sea, so a night at the airport is fine, right?
– I would much rather sleep in a storm at sea than at an airport. Here there are hard seats, and you get sore and sore in the ass, he says to VG.
WEATHERPROOF: Sunniva Leikanger (20), Ole Mathias Hetlesæther (22) and Ulrik Bergerud (20) spend the night at the airport. Airport manager Ivar Helsing Schrøen walks in the background. Photo: Ronald Johansen, iTromsø
After waiting six hours for the Norwegian flight from Tromsø to Oslo, the three friends have to spend the night at the airport.
– We think it’s a bit stupid, but appreciate that they fix accommodation, says Ulrik Bergerud to VG.
– Now we have ordered Peppe’s Pizza and are waiting for them to put out field beds, says Bergerud.
The three friends are on leave from the garrison in Sør-Varanger, and flew from Kirkenes to Tromsø earlier on Thursday.
– I would like to sleep in my own bed, says Sunniva Leikanger.
AIRPORT-FIXED: Here Andreas Heimark is airport-fixed. In the background lies Gerd Moan, relaxing. Photo: Ronald Johansen, iTromsø
The airport became a hotel
The reason is canceled flights and fully booked hotels, says press officer Helene W. Jensen in Avinor to VG.
In total, it is about 220 travelers.
Are you at the airport? Contact VG here.
Therefore, they have decided to turn the airport into a kind of hotel:
– We are working on emptying our own emergency stock of woolen blankets and stretchers to set up inside the airport, and the catering establishments stay open longer so that people can get food, says Jensen.
STAYING THE NIGHT HERE: Around 200 people have to settle for spending the night at Tromsø Airport after the weather chaos today. Photo: Ronald Johansen, iTromsø
She says that Avinor is also working on connecting the civil defense.
According to Jensen, all flights in Tromsø are also canceled for the evening, apart from two.
Avinor initially stated that there was talk of between 500 and 600 being without accommodation, but has since corrected this.
Get the latest news on “Ingunn” here.
Storting politician Marianne Sivertsen Næss from Finnmark was stuck for 11 hours at Tromsø Airport Langnes.
– I have been at the airport since 10:00 this morning. I was going to Hammerfest with the Minister of Health to visit Hammerfest Hospital. The flight was supposed to leave at 10.50, she tells VG
– I have hunted all planes. I even sat for an hour on the plane to Lakselv, before it was also cancelled. I’ve probably had 5–6–7 departures that have been canceled today, says the Storting politician.
POLITICIAN AND RESCUEMAN: Storting politician Marianne Sivertsen Næss together with Kristian Seljeseth. Photo: Private
However, she does not have to spend the night at the airport. Now she is staying with her Tromsø friend Geir Seljeseth – who is one of the leaders of the Industri Energi trade union.
However, he is not at home in Tromsø, so his son Kristian has picked her up and made a bed in the guest room.
– He (Geir Seljeseth, journ.anm.) said to me earlier in the week that “remember if there is a crisis, you can sleep with us”. I am very grateful for that. Now we watch “The Debate” on TV, she says.
Published:
Published: 01.02.24 at 21:03
Updated: 01.02.24 at 23:13
2024-02-01 20:03:46
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