Finnair has announced that it will increase flights to Lapland this Christmas. This move has come about to meet passenger demand following the demise of Thomas Cook.

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Finnair is preparing for the Christmas rush with extra flights to Lapland. Photo: Valentin Hintikka via Flickr

High demand

According to a press release by the flag carrier of Finland, there is a huge seasonal market in the United Kingdom that needs to be catered for. Thomas Cook used to be the go-to firm for flights to the region in northern Finland before it ceased trading in September.

Now, families that wish to visit the Christmas-associated area are looking for other operators as the holiday season approaches. Therefore, in total, Finnair has introduced 23 extra flights for the period between December 20, 2019, and January 5, 2020. 15 of these flights will fly to the popular destination of Rovaniemi, while an additional eight flights will be split between Lapland’s villages of Kittilä and Ivalo.

The flights from London Heathrow will start at just £255 ($328) for a return ticket. Also, Finnair will be launching flights from London Gatwick from just £240 ($310). Gatwick to Ivalo flights will run from December 8, 2019, to March 22, 2020. Meanwhile, flights to Kittilä will operate from December 15, 2019, to March 8, 2020.

Lapland
Lapland's snow-covered landscape makes it an attractive location for tourists during the holiday season. Photo: Pixabay

Well-connected for Christmas

Finnair is excited about the prospect of increasing its services on these festive routes. Andrew Fish, Finnair General Manager UK & Ireland & Benelux spoke about the upcoming changes.

“Finnair is flying to the rescue of Thomas Cook customers left high and dry following the company’s collapse by offering extra flights to Lapland this Christmas,” Fish said.

“We know how important it is for families to enjoy time together at Christmas and Lapland offers an amazing festive getaway. Finnair is offering up to three additional flights a day on select dates to the top destinations of Rovaniemi, Ivalo, and Kittilä from Helsinki, with quick and convenient connections from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Dublin.

“We’re also thrilled to start our direct seasonal services in December from London Gatwick to Ivalo and Kittilä. We hope these extra flights will make Christmas in Lapland a magical time for UK families.”

Northern Lights Lapland
Due to its unique position, the Lapland is one of the few accessible places that tourists can see the northern lights. Photo: Pixabay

Further boosts

The airline isn’t solely focusing on developing its local services. Earlier this month, Finnair announced that it intends to operate daily flights between Helsinki and Tokyo ahead of the Olympics next year. These moves highlight the carrier’s knack of identifying seasonal opportunities.

Along with Finnair, Flybe announced today, that it is preparing for the Christmas schedule with amendments to its schedule. The low-cost carrier will be increasing its frequency between London and Edinburgh this winter, to meet passenger requirements.

Simple Flying reached out to Finnair for comment on its announcement but did not hear back before publication. We will update the article with any further announcements.

Would you like to check out Lapland on one of these flights this Christmas? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.