HONG KONG—Finnish airport operator Finavia is ramping up its focus on emerging international markets while leveraging the growing popularity of Lapland as a travel destination.
“We've seen strong growth in number of services to Lapland airports driving passenger growth, and we expect an increase also this winter season,” Petri Vuori, Finavia’s senior vice president of sales and route development, tells Routes. He adds that new year-round services are supporting regional tourism “beyond the peak holiday season.”
Ryanair is set to operate 62 weekly frequencies to Rovaniemi this winter across 10 routes, including new connections from Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Shannon. KLM is also increasing its Amsterdam-Rovaniemi service to 4X-weekly flights, reflecting strong demand from European markets.
Meanwhile, Helsinki is gaining traction in the meetings and conference sector, and Oulu’s designation as European Capital of Culture 2026 is expected to generate new inbound traffic.
Looking ahead, Finavia’s network strategy aims to balance short-haul expansion with long-haul ambitions. Vuori says intra-European routes remain a summer priority, but the operator is also targeting growth in China, the Middle East and North America.
More News And Analysis From Routes World 2025
“China remains a key target for development, and we’re actively exploring opportunities in other long-haul markets,” he explains. The strategy is underpinned by close collaboration with tourism boards, data-driven market insights and tailored incentive programs.
However, the long-haul challenge has been compounded by Russia’s airspace closure, which forced Finnair to abandon its strategic shortcut between Europe and Asia. Flights to the region now take longer, cost more and in some cases have been suspended. Vuori says this underscores the need for resilience, noting, “Navigating global macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions will be critical to maintaining long-haul connectivity.”
However, Finnair is reinforcing its Southern European network from Helsinki for summer 2026, introducing scheduled flights to Catania, Florence, Valencia and Kos. These additions complement an already robust offering across Italy, Spain and Greece, catering to Finnish and Northern European travelers seeking both cultural and beach destinations.
Related Content
