New BA flights to Rovaniemi: fly to Lapland with Avios this Xmas
Simon28 Jul 2026
Last Updated: 25 Sep 2026
Avios Destinations
There are trips you plan, and there are trips you promise. A visit to Santa's home town, with huskies barking in the snow and the northern lights overhead, sits firmly in the second category, and it has just become much easier to keep that promise. British Airways will launch direct flights to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, on 4 December 2026, flying twice a week from London Gatwick through the winter season, including Christmas Eve itself.
The route, announced in July 2026, will be operated by BA Euroflyer, British Airways' Gatwick-based short-haul arm. It joins the airline's existing winter service to Ivalo, so British Airways Lapland flights now cover two Finnish destinations this season, and it turns one of Europe's most magical winter trips into something you can book as a British Airways reward flight. Here is everything Avios collectors need to know.
Route and schedule details
| Route | First flight | Days | Frequency | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Gatwick to Rovaniemi (RVN) | 4 December 2026 | Mondays and Fridays | Twice weekly through the winter season | BA Euroflyer |
The Monday and Friday pattern is made for long weekends: fly out Friday, wave at the reindeer, fly home Monday. Flights are on sale now at ba.com, with launch fares reported from around £318 return in Economy. Treat that as a guide: this is Lapland in December, and cash prices on the most Christmassy dates climb quickly once families start booking.
Can I use Avios to fly to Lapland?
Yes, and that is what makes this launch genuinely exciting. A direct Gatwick service means Rovaniemi becomes a brand-new Avios redemption in its own right, bookable through The British Airways Club like any other British Airways reward flight.
Better still, reward seats to Lapland are not a lottery. British Airways guarantees a minimum number of reward seats on every flight it operates: at least eight in Euro Traveller and at least four in Club Europe on short-haul services.
With only two flights a week, the most in-demand Christmas dates will be snapped up fast, but every single Rovaniemi departure carries reward seats from the day it goes on sale. If you are new to redemptions, our guide on how to book a BA reward flight with Avios walks through the process, and the BA Club beginner's guide covers joining the programme first (it is free, and you will need your membership number to book).
What reward flights to Lapland could cost you
So what will Lapland flights with Avios actually cost? Early reporting from the Avios community puts Rovaniemi in the following bands. Figures are one way, as a guide only, as of July 2026; taxes and fees apply on top, with Reward Flight Saver keeping them capped on short-haul bookings, and lower-Avios, higher-cash combinations usually appear at booking.
