This weekend Iberia launched its new route to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland (Finland), and has become the first airline to operate regular direct flights from Madrid to what is known as Santa Claus’s hometown. Another IAG airline, Vueling, has also been a pioneer in connecting the other major Spanish capital, Barcelona, with the epicenter of Christmas. The low-cost company already announced in June that it would also begin operating its Barcelona-Rovaniemi line this December 2 and until January 13.
In the case of Iberia, the route has been inaugurated with a full house on flight IB3384 on Saturday, December 2, with 183 passengers, a journey that has included surprises for customers such as reindeer-shaped cookies and stickers and letters of Santa Claus for children.
In addition, Iberia’s cabin crew (TCP) have worn bells on this flight to identify themselves as “Santa Claus’s helpers”, as reported by the airline in a statement.
Upon arriving at Rovaniemi airport, the passengers received a visit from Santa Claus in person, an experience that the little ones enjoyed being able to hand him letters that they had written on the plane.
This new regular Iberia flight will be available until February 10, 2024 with two weekly frequencies, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. In total, almost 7,000 places have been put on sale.
Customers can purchase tickets from 199 euros each way buying round trip. The route, as reported by the company, is carried out on an Airbus 320neo aircraft equipped with Leap-1A type CFM engines.
More than just Santa Claus
According to Santa Claus’s hometown, in Rovaniemi it is possible to see outstanding northern lights up to 200 nights a year in Finnish Lapland. In Rovaniemi, the astral spectacle can be witnessed from the city and its surroundings from the end of August to the beginning of April.
