Although we’re absolutely ready to embrace spring and summer, the idea of a winter getaway has got us thinking about cosy evenings by the fire, and where better to enjoy the thrill that Christmastime brings than Lapland? Luckily for us, Latvian airline airBaltic is set to launch flights from Manchester to the home of Finnish Lapland, Kuusamo, this December so we can indulge in that fantasy a little bit easier.
The airline is announcing the launch of a direct service between Manchester and Kuusamo in Finnish Lapland, which will run once per week from Sunday, December 13 until the end of March 2027, giving travellers a chance to visit this stunning winter wonderland in the run-up to Christmas.
What’s more, in the quieter post-Christmas shoulder season, visitors can enjoy activities like husky and reindeer sledding, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. The airBaltic route will be the first regular scheduled service from Manchester to Lapland, as opposed to the charter flights that Jet2.com and TUI operate for their Santa packages.
The route will be operated on airBaltic’s Airbus A220-300 fleet, which is due to be equipped with complimentary Starlink internet on board. The aircraft has a total of 148 seats with an Economy and Business Class offer.
Mantas Vrubliauskas, VP Network Management at airBaltic, said: “Winter remains an important time for our customers to travel for leisure, and decisions around new routes must be made well in advance to secure the best opportunities for them. As the current winter season comes to a close, we are already looking ahead to the next one, starting in late October 2026.
“With additional routes to sunny destinations such as Gran Canaria and Tenerife, alongside new connections to Kuusamo for winter sports and Nordic experiences, we continue to diversify our network and adapt to evolving travel demand.”
From Kuusamo, the airline will add flights to Berlin, Hamburg, Manchester and
London Gatwick. The Kuusamo to Manchester route will launch on December 13, 2026 with one weekly flight.
How much are the flights from Manchester to Kuusamo?
Fares will start from £120 per person one-way in Economy and £309 per person one-way in Business Class. You can book via the airBaltic website here.