British Airways has confirmed the launch of a new direct flight service from London Gatwick to Rovaniemi, Finland, the official hometown of Santa Claus. The first flight departs on December 4, with services operating twice weekly through January 4. Return fares start at £317.60 per person for travel departing December 4 and returning December 11.
Route Details and Schedule
The flights will be operated by BA Euroflyer, the airline's short-haul subsidiary based at Gatwick. Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, sits directly on the Arctic Circle and is renowned for Santa Claus Village, where visitors can meet Santa and send postcards from the Santa Claus Main Post Office. The region also offers husky and reindeer sledge safaris, and is one of the best places to view the Northern Lights, with peak visibility occurring during the winter months.
Expanding Festive Network
Karen Hilton, managing director of BA Euroflyer and Gatwick Ground Services, said: “Rovaniemi, the home of Santa Claus, is the perfect destination for a festive getaway and a fantastic addition to our Gatwick network, building on the success of our Ivalo route.” The new service complements BA's existing Lapland route to Ivalo, providing more options for travellers seeking a winter wonderland experience.
New App Features
Alongside the route launch, British Airways is introducing a new app designed as a real-time travel companion. Features include faster access to boarding passes, personalised push notifications, self-service check-in, live journey updates for flights from Heathrow and Gatwick, passport scanning, interactive terminal maps, lounge occupancy information, and push notifications. The app aims to streamline the travel experience for passengers.
