Finnair, the Official Airline of Santa Claus, landed at Manchester Airport yesterday with a very special passenger on board, officially kicking off the countdown to Christmas.
Santa Arrives in Manchester
Santa Claus, the most famous Finn, traveled with Finnair from Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi to Manchester, connecting through the airline’s Helsinki hub. Manchester is the only European stop on his international tour this year, where he will help spread festive cheer around the world.
After touching down for a pre-Christmas visit, Santa was seen stepping off the Nordic carrier’s A320 before jingling his way through Terminal 2 — Finnair’s new UK location — to collect his Christmas gifts from baggage reclaim.
He then spent time handing out presents throughout the terminal and bringing joy to departing passengers.
Celebrating Finnair’s UK Winter Schedule
Last year marked 30 years of Finnair flights between Manchester and Helsinki, when Santa also visited the city ahead of his global Christmas Eve journey. This year’s visit highlights the start of Finnair’s winter schedule from the UK, which includes:
- Double daily flights from Manchester to Helsinki
- Additional flights from London, Edinburgh, and Dublin
- Convenient connections to Finnish Lapland
This winter, Finnair will operate up to 70 weekly flights between Helsinki and Rovaniemi — the Official Hometown of Santa Claus. During peak periods, flights will depart as frequently as every 30 minutes, essentially creating a shuttle service to the Arctic Circle.
These services complement Finnair’s network of 15 destinations in Finland, including other popular Lapland gateways such as Ivalo, Kittilä, and Kuusamo.
What Finnair and Manchester Airport Say
Anssi Partanen, Finnair Market Director Europe, said:
“We are incredibly excited about bringing the real Finnish Santa Claus to the amazing city of Manchester, ahead of his annual visit next month. As the only European leg of the international tour, Manchester is a very important destination for us as the gateway for customers from the North to explore Finland and connect on to our exciting global network.”
Stephen Turner, Manchester Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer, added:
“We are proud to connect the North with the world, and at this time of year that often means giving families from across the region the chance to fly to Lapland to visit Santa — but for him to be making the journey in the opposite direction is a rare Christmas treat. We’re excited to continue connecting even more customers between Manchester and Helsinki and beyond, and we’re thrilled to see Santa visiting Finnair’s new home in Terminal 2.”
Traveling to Lapland
Travelers wishing to visit Santa and his helpers can enjoy year-round services from Manchester to airports across Lapland, including Rovaniemi. Return fares start at £197 in Economy, including taxes and charges.
Finnair’s Longstanding Partnership With Santa
Finnair supports Santa’s global goodwill efforts through its long-term charity partner, The Santa Claus Foundation, founded in 2000 to promote children’s well-being around the world.
The airline has been the Official Airline of Santa Claus since 1983, proudly flying him from the Arctic Circle to destinations around the globe each year — helping people everywhere experience the magic of Christmas.
