Lapland’s winter tourism is set for a major boost as Kuusamo welcomes nine direct flight routes from eight European cities for the 2026-2027 winter season, a historic expansion that opens up easier access to our boutique properties across the region.
Over 12,000 additional inbound seats will serve the Kuusamo, Ruka, and surrounding areas next winter from airBaltic’s five new routes alone and counting the new Eurowings Berlin service and upgraded Lufthansa frequencies, total new capacity reaches approximately 15,000 inbound seats.
airBaltic Launches Five New Routes — and Bases an Aircraft in Kuusamo
Starting December 11, 2026, Latvian carrier airBaltic will operate direct flights to Kuusamo from five European cities: London Gatwick, Manchester, Berlin, Hamburg, and Riga. The routes operate weekly on Sundays from December 13, 2026 to March 28, 2027, using Airbus A220-300 aircraft (148 passengers) — bringing over 11,800 new inbound seats to the region.
In a historically significant development, airBaltic will station one aircraft overnight at Kuusamo Airport during peak season, enabling multiple direct connections and additional weekend services. Through Riga’s extensive network, travelers will also have onward connections to numerous other European destinations — a meaningful advantage for our guests traveling from Eastern Europe or the Baltics. (Read more at Finavia).
Eurowings Strengthens German Connections
Eurowings adds a new Berlin–Kuusamo route operating December 20, 2026 to March 14, 2027, weekly throughout the winter season using Airbus A320 aircraft (180 passengers) — adding another 2,000+ inbound seats. This complements Eurowings’ continuing Düsseldorf–Kuusamo service and makes Berlin a double-served market for the region, strengthening access from Germany — one of Lapland’s most important source markets.
Lufthansa Group Doubles Down on Kuusamo
Beyond the new launches, Kuusamo retains its established Lufthansa Group connections:
- Lufthansa: Frankfurt–Kuusamo — serving Kuusamo since 2017, upgraded to two weekly flights in February and March 2027
- Eurowings: Düsseldorf–Kuusamo — continuing seasonal service
- Edelweiss Air: Zurich–Kuusamo — continuing weekly service from Switzerland
Combined, the Lufthansa Group will offer up to 69 weekly flights to nine Arctic airports this winter — with Kuusamo among the key beneficiaries.
The Full Winter 2026-2027 Kuusamo Network
| Airline | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| airBaltic | London Gatwick | NEW |
| airBaltic | Manchester | NEW |
| airBaltic | Berlin | NEW |
| airBaltic | Hamburg | NEW |
| airBaltic | Riga | NEW |
| Eurowings | Berlin | NEW |
| Eurowings | Düsseldorf | Continuing |
| Lufthansa | Frankfurt | Continuing, boosted to 2x weekly Feb–Mar |
| Edelweiss Air | Zurich | Continuing |
| Finnair | Helsinki | Year-round |
Your Gateway to Arctic Boutique Collection Retreats
These new connections make arctic boutique experiences more accessible than ever. Whether it’s a Sunday-to-Sunday ski week at Rukan Salonki, a quiet design-led escape to Hotel Pikku-Syöte, or — from winter 2026-2027 — a stay at the newly opening Taivalkoski Resort & Spa, travelers from London, Manchester, Berlin, Hamburg, Riga, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Zurich can now reach our properties with just one flight — and often a single Sunday departure.
Rukan Salonki — 25 minutes from Kuusamo Airport
Nestled just 3 km from Ruka ski village, on the shores of Lake Salonkijärvi, Rukan Salonki Resort offers atmospheric log chalets and stylish Sky View Villas designed for aurora viewing through panoramic skylights. A family-run travel company since 1986, Rukan Salonki is more than accommodation — it’s a full arctic experience, with the acclaimed Wild Food Restaurant Kultala serving local, seasonal cuisine, and the Pyhäpiilo Sauna World by Lake Pyhäjärvi offering smoke saunas and outdoor hot tubs. Part of Salonki Travels DMC, the team can tailor everything from private transfers to husky safaris, making it a seamless arrival for guests stepping off the plane. Find here more inspiration for unique activities in Ruka region in addition to traditional husky and snowmobiling experiences, ranging from ice carting, to ice sauna, reindeer yoga, heated glass wagons for northern lights wagons and more.
Pikku-Syöte Ski Resort & Hotel— 1.5 hours from Kuusamo Airport
Our newest member, Pikku-Syöte Ski Resort & Hotel sits at the summit of Pikku-Syöte fell, overlooking Syöte National Park in Southern Lapland. This is authentic ski-in/ski-out arctic living — adventure, wilderness, Nordic gastronomy and design — with slopes starting from the hotel’s doorstep and a crowd-free atmosphere that’s increasingly rare in Lapland. Perfect for travelers seeking a quieter, more design-forward alternative to larger resort destinations.
Coming Soon: Tiera Resort — 1 hour from Kuusamo Airport
A new 30-room property currently in development, Tiera Resort in Taivalkoski, will soft-launch for travelers in summer 2026 before opening fully for the 2026-2027 winter season.
Beyond Kuusamo: More Connections Across Finnish Lapland
The wave of new flights extends across all major Lapland airports, making the entire region more accessible than ever for winter 2026-2027:
Rovaniemi (RVN) — The Capital of Lapland
- Lufthansa: Munich–Rovaniemi — NEW route launching December 4, 2026, operating twice weekly (Fridays and Sundays) until March 26, 2027, with Airbus A320neo aircraft
- Lufthansa: Frankfurt–Rovaniemi — increased to three weekly flights in February and March 2027
- Finnair: Paris CDG–Rovaniemi — NEW route, twice weekly (Dec 4, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027)
- Multiple existing connections continuing: London Gatwick, Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Izmir and more
Kittilä (KTT) — Gateway to Levi & Ylläs
- Finnair: Brussels–Kittilä — NEW route, twice weekly for winter 2026-27
- Finnair: Zurich–Kittilä — NEW route, twice weekly for winter 2026-27
- Lufthansa: Munich–Kittilä — boosted to up to three weekly flights
- Continuing services from Vienna, Milan, Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt and more
Ivalo (IVL) — The Northernmost Gateway
- Discover Airlines: Munich–Ivalo — NEW route launching December 23, 2026, operating weekly on Wednesdays until March 24, 2027. This is the Lufthansa Group carrier’s first connection to Ivalo Airport
- Lufthansa: Frankfurt–Ivalo — continuing weekly service
- Additional Lufthansa Group connections from Vienna, Düsseldorf and Zurich continue
- Finnair: Helsinki–Ivalo–Kirkenes — frequency increasing to six weekly flights