Finland’s national flag carrier, Finnair, has been the official airline of Santa Claus ever since it made its first over-the-North Pole flight from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) to Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo, Japan, in 1983. During the 12 hours and 54 minutes, the Finnair DC-10 took off from Helsinki and flew north, crossing Norway, Svalbard, the North Pole, and Alaska before crossing the Bering Sea to Japan.
For centuries, Santa Claus has lived above the Arctic Circle in Finlands Lapland under the magical Northern Lights near Korvatunturi Fell, an elf-ear-shaped mountain that can hear children’s wishes from around the world. Santa’s home is in the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, home to the Sámi-speaking Indigenous peoples of Northern Europe.
The Santa Claus Foundation
At the heart of Finnair’s partnership with Santa Claus is the airline’s work with the Santa Claus Foundation, a charitable organization whose mission is to promote the well-being of children worldwide. Together with this, the Santa Claus Foundation has developed a global image of Finland as the home of Santa Claus.
This year, Finnair will fly Santa Claus to various destinations throughout Asia, where he will visit local schools and hospitals, spreading the Christmas spirit.
Photo: Finnair
When speaking about this year’s trip in a Finnair statement, Jari Ahjoharju from the Santa Foundation said:
“The excitement is palpable when Santa touches down. People of all ages eagerly gather to seize a cherished photo opportunity with the authentic Finnish Santa Claus, recognized by his bushy long beard and timeless, friendly, and kind-looking essence.
For us, it’s, of course, crucial to remind the world that Santa hails from the enchanting land of Finland and that spreading that message is a cherished part of our mission. Equally significant is the charity work we undertake with children.”
Santa Claus Village
Always a place of festivities, the Santa Claus Village warmly welcomes elves, gnomes, forest animals, and friendly human visitors. When not preparing for his Christmas Eve flight, Santa Claus spends his time sitting in front of the fire looking through a book of children’s names that the gnomes have painstakingly compiled while translating millions of letters from children worldwide.
Santa’s house is full of doors of different sizes that connect to secret rooms only Santa Claus can access. One of the doors opens into a corridor that leads to Santa’s command center, where he has computers recording children’s messages picked up by Korvatunturi Fell.
During the autumn, in the lead-up to Christmas, the gnomes and elves work around the clock meticulously preparing the gifts for Santa to deliver to children on Christmas Eve. Unbeknownst to everyone except for a few special people at Finnair, for some of the longer journeys, Santa lets Rudolf and the other reindeer rest and delivers the gifts with the help of the airline.
Finnair festive meals
All long-haul passengers on Finnair are treated to a special holiday menu leading up to and during the holiday season. Examples of an inflight menu are rainbow trout gravlax (cured with a combination of salt and sugar), poached duck, roasted cod, mulled wine, and gingerbread cookies.
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Finnair’s New Nordic Winter Menu
Finnair has unveiled a new exquisite winter menu. The long-haul business class menu combines fresh Nordic and local flavors from the airline’s destinations.
“Seasonal ingredients and flavors have inspired the autumn and winter menu. In business class on long-haul flights departing from Helsinki, we serve smoked whitefish, crayfish tails and Shimeji mushrooms or salmon tartare and spicy sriracha shrimp served with trout roe and cucumber in scallop cream as a starter. In addition, goat cheese tartlet with semi-dried cherry tomatoes and redcurrant compote is served as a second starter. For the main course, we serve slow-cooked beef entrecôte with garlic mashed potatoes, root vegetables and sautéed porcini mushrooms in blackberry sauce or pike-perch and salmon terrine with creamy kohlrabi and roasted vegetables in lobster sauce as a fish alternative. In addition, there is always a third, route-specific option,” said Development Chef Sami Oksava from Finnair Kitchen in the airline’s ann
All passengers on Finnair flights can enjoy Finnair’s signature blueberry juice drink, which is made exclusively from European wild blueberries. Solely produced by European juice maker Eckes-Granini in Turku on Finland’s southwest coast, the refreshing blueberry drink contains no preservatives or artificial colors.
Have a winter vacation in Lapland
If you want an exciting winter vacation that embraces the Christmas spirit, nature, and the natural phenomena of the Northern Lights, consider flying with Finnair to Rovaniemi in Lapland. While in Rovaniemi, visit the Santa Claus Village, which has a unique atmosphere during the holiday season that will fill you with joy and a sense of giving.
While there, you can, of course, meet Santa, enjoy delicious treats, and mail a postcard or letter with Santa’s official postmark. The village is a hub of activities during the holiday season, offering various craft workshops and reindeer sleigh rides.
While in Lapland, you should also take advantage of the area’s incredible snowy landscape while chasing the elusive Northern Lights. On clear, cloud-free nights, the aurora borealis lights up the Arctic sky with a dazzling display of greens, purples, and pinks, lights dancing in the distance. While the Northern Lights can be seen from anywhere in Lapland, the two most popular spots for seeing them are in the north, at atIvalo and Saariselkä.
Winter sports in Lapland
Lapland is also home to Finland’s best ski resorts, with Levi and Ylläs in Kittilä and Ruka offering a variety of slopes suitable for beginners and the most experienced skiers.
Accommodations at the resorts range from hotel rooms to slope-side cabins. All resorts have ski rental shops and ski schools. Cross-country skiing is also top-rated in Finland, with hundreds of miles of trails throughout the country.
If you would like to admire your snowy surroundings but do not feel sporty because skiing sounds like too much work, why not rent a snowmobile or take a ride in a dog sleigh? Best of all, experience the best of Finnish culture by taking a relaxing, therapeutic sauna. Originally designed to combat Finland’s harsh winter temperatures, taking a hot sauna has secured a special place in Finnish culture.
Practical tips for visiting Lapland:
- The best time to visit Lapland is between November and February. You will not only have the chance to see the Northern Lights, but you can also enjoy a full range of winter sports.
- If your trip’s purpose is to visit the Santa Claus Village and meet Santa Claus, the best two months are November and December. If you are coming to Lapland to chase the Northern Lights, your best chance of seeing them is in January.
- Always try to book your Finnair flight to Lapland early, as it is a very popular destination in the run-up to Christmas.
What clothes should I bring?
The key is to get clothes for cold, snowy days and nights. Try to dress in layers, with a thermal layer, a mid-layer, and an insulated outer jacket. Warm boots, gloves, and hats are essential if you intend to spend long periods outside.
Finnair flights to Lapland
Image: GC Maps
For the busy Lapland winter season, Finnair will operate up to 63 weekly flights between Helsinki and Rovaniemi, a 25% increase from the 2023 numbers. For the one-hour, 20-minute flight, Finnair uses both Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. Finnair also operates a daily flight between Rovaniemi and Tromsø in Norway. The 1-hour, 25-minute flight is operated by Norra on behalf of Finnair using an ATR 72-500 turboprop.
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Finnair Flies Santa Claus From His Lapland Village To London Heathrow In Official Carrier’s Holiday Kick-Off Flight
Santa traveled on a Finnair A350 to launch his traditional Christmas tour.