Seven new direct flights connect Europe with Ivalo

Loads of snow, freezing cold, polar night and northern lights. The buzzwords are queueing up in travel brochures across central Europe and faraway Asia.

Ivalo, a small town in northernmost Lapland, has it all. Post-pandemic travel trends has prompted people to look north for exclusive dog-sledding, snowmobile tours and skiing.

Saariselkä ski resort is only 20 minutes drive from Ivalo airport. Photo: Thomas Nilsen

Lapland North Destinations has published the list of new routes flying directly to Ivalo for the winter season 2024/25. Local newspaper Inarilainen first reported about all the new flights. 

For British Airways, it will be the northernmost scheduled flight ever. Twice a week, the U.K. flag carrier will bring in tourists from London Gatwick starting from December 3.

Austrian Airlines launches a weekly flight starting in January from Vienna, while Vueling begins direct flights from Paris Orly on December 28 and every Saturday until last weekend in March. Transavia will also fly directly from Paris with start in mid-December. 

Edelweiss will bring Swiss and other central European tourists from Zürich, but dates of first departure isn’t announced yet. From Germany will also Lufthansa fly to Ivalo, from its main hub in Frankfurt. 

Finally, Eurowings launches a Ivalo flight once a week from December 21 from Dusseldorf.

The Barents Observer has previously reported about Finnair that from April next year will fly twice a week from Kirkenes via Ivalo to Helsinki.

Tourists on the top of Ukonsaari in Lake Inari. Photo: Thomas Nilsen