Finland Winter Travel 2026–27: 31 New Flight Routes Make Lapland Easier to Reach

Published: 8 October 2026
Category: Europe Travel / Finland Travel

Finland is preparing for a particularly well-connected winter travel season.

According to Finavia, 31 new routes will operate from Finnish airports during the 2026–27 winter season compared with the previous winter.

The biggest expansion is happening in Finnish Lapland, where new international connections are being added from the UK and Central Europe. The winter aviation season runs from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027. Finavia

✈️ 31 New Routes Across Finland

With the new services, Finavia airports will offer 163 international scheduled air connections to 103 international airports during the winter season. Finavia

For travellers, this means more direct options for reaching Finland without relying on lengthy connections.

The expansion is particularly significant for people planning winter holidays in northern Finland.

❄️ Lapland Is Getting the Biggest Boost

Finland’s Lapland airports are expected to be among the biggest winners from the new routes.

The region will gain connections to 10 new European destinations, reflecting strong demand from travellers in the United Kingdom and Central Europe. Finavia

The main Lapland airports are:

• Rovaniemi
• Kittilä
• Kuusamo
• Ivalo
• Kemi-Tornio

Together, these airports provide access to some of Finland’s most popular winter destinations.

🎅 Rovaniemi Gets New European Connections

Rovaniemi Airport will have 37 routes during the coming winter season.

New scheduled connections include:

🇬🇧 London Gatwick — BA Euroflyer
🇬🇧 Newcastle — easyJet
🇩🇪 Munich — Lufthansa
🇨🇿 Prague — Eurowings

At the peak of winter, Rovaniemi will have direct international connections to as many as 36 international airports. Finavia

This is particularly important for travellers visiting Rovaniemi for its famous winter experiences.

🏔️ Kittilä Adds More International Flights

Kittilä Airport will have 15 routes during the winter season.

New scheduled services include:

🇳🇱 Amsterdam — Transavia Netherlands
🇧🇪 Brussels — Brussels Airlines
🇬🇧 Liverpool — easyJet
🇬🇧 London Luton — easyJet

These connections make it easier for travellers from several European cities to reach Finnish Lapland directly. Finavia

Kittilä is also a gateway to popular destinations such as Levi, one of Finland’s best-known winter resort areas.

🌌 Ivalo Gets a New Munich Connection

Ivalo Airport will receive a new direct connection from Munich, operated by Discover Airlines.

Ivalo is particularly useful for travellers heading to the northernmost parts of Finnish Lapland and looking for Arctic landscapes, winter activities and Northern Lights experiences. Finavia

🏂 Kuusamo Expands Its European Network

Kuusamo Airport will also see significant growth.

AirBaltic will launch new services connecting Kuusamo with:

🇩🇪 Berlin
🇬🇧 London Gatwick
🇱🇻 Riga

Selected flights will also operate from Hamburg and Manchester.

Eurowings will additionally introduce a Berlin–Kuusamo service. Finavia

Kuusamo is a convenient gateway to Ruka, one of Finland’s major winter holiday destinations.

 Brussels Airlines Adds Kemi-Tornio

Another interesting development is the introduction of Brussels Airlines’ first flights from Brussels to Kemi-Tornio Airport.

This gives travellers another way to reach Finnish Lapland from Western Europe. Finavia

✈️ Helsinki Is Also Strengthening Its International Network

The growth isn’t limited to Lapland.

Helsinki Airport is continuing to strengthen its role as a connection point between Europe and Asia.

Emirates has already launched its daily Dubai–Helsinki service, while Qatar Airways is operating daily flights between Doha and Helsinki during the winter season. Finavia

Finnair is also expanding its network, including a new scheduled service to Melbourne, Australia, beginning 24 October 2026.

Other additions compared with last winter include services between Helsinki and:

🇱🇺 Luxembourg
🇳🇴 Stavanger
🇮🇹 Turin
🇸🇪 Umeå

Helsinki will also gain a new winter connection to Tromsø in northern Norway from November. Finavia

🎄 Why Finland Could Be a Major Winter Destination in 2026–27

Finland has become increasingly popular among travellers looking for a different kind of winter holiday.

Instead of traditional European city breaks, visitors can combine their trip with:

🌌 Northern Lights
🎅 Santa Claus experiences
🐕 Husky safaris
🦌 Reindeer experiences
🎿 Skiing and snowboarding
❄️ Snow-covered forests
🔥 Arctic cabins and saunas

The additional flight connections make these experiences more accessible from several European cities.

💡 Which Finnish Airport Should You Choose?

Your choice of airport can make a big difference depending on where you want to go.

🎅 Rovaniemi

Best for first-time Lapland visitors, Santa Claus experiences and family trips.

🎿 Kittilä

A strong option for Levi and ski holidays.

🌌 Ivalo

Useful for travellers heading further north and looking for Arctic experiences.

🏂 Kuusamo

Best suited to Ruka, skiing and outdoor activities.

🏙️ Helsinki

Best for combining Finland’s capital with a longer trip to Lapland.

📅 When Does the Winter Season Start?

The international winter aviation season begins on 25 October 2026 and continues until 27 March 2027. Finavia

However, individual routes can have different start dates and frequencies.

Travellers should therefore check the airline’s schedule before booking.

💰 Does More Connectivity Mean Cheaper Flights?

Not necessarily.

More direct routes can give travellers more choice and potentially create greater competition, but ticket prices will still depend on:

• Travel dates
• Demand
• Airline
• Baggage
• Booking time
• Christmas and New Year demand
• School holidays
• Cabin class

Winter travel to Lapland can become particularly expensive around the Christmas and New Year period.

If you’re planning a trip, comparing several airports and travel dates could help reduce the overall cost.

📌 TravellerTrek Travel Tip

Don’t search only for “flights to Lapland.”

Instead, compare the airports:

Rovaniemi ✈️ Kittilä ✈️ Ivalo ✈️ Kuusamo

Your destination within Lapland may be much closer to one airport than another.

And with 31 new routes coming to Finnish airports this winter, travellers have more options than before. Finavia

TravellerTrek Takeaway

Finland is heading into the 2026–27 winter season with a major expansion in international air connectivity.

The country will see 31 new routes compared with the previous winter, while Lapland is receiving particularly strong growth from the UK and Central Europe. Finavia

For travellers dreaming of snow, Northern Lights and Arctic experiences, this winter could be one of the easiest seasons yet to reach Finnish Lapland from across Europe.

Planning Finland this winter? Save this guide before booking your flights. ❄️✈️

Official source

Finavia — Winter season brings even stronger air connectivity for Finland