Belfast gets fantastic direct flights to Rovaniemi with easyJet winter 2026

Belfast gets fantastic direct flights to Rovaniemi with easyJet winter 2026

Good news for anyone in Northern Ireland who’s ever fancied a weekend hanging out with Santa Claus, chasing the Northern Lights or zooming through snowy forests on a husky sled — easyJet has just announced the first-ever direct flights from Belfast to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland.

That’s right. Starting in December 2026, you’ll be able to hop on a plane at Belfast International Airport and step off just a few hours later in Santa’s official hometown — without any faffing about with connections or layovers.

The new route will run twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays — which means you can do a festive long weekend or sneak off midweek for a cheeky dose of Arctic magic. Either way, it’s set to become one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting new winter getaways.

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Northern Ireland to Lapland? It’s about time.

For years, travellers from Northern Ireland wanting to visit Lapland had to go through the rigmarole of connecting flights via London, Dublin, or half of Europe — by the time you finally got there, you’d aged several Christmases.

But now? With easyJet’s new direct flights, you can get from Belfast to Rovaniemi Airport in one go — and yes, that’s the airport where the baggage carousel is shaped like a sleigh (seriously).

This will be the first time ever that Rovaniemi has had a direct link with Belfast, which is great news not just for Northern Irish families eager to see Santa, but also for the Finns, who’ll be rolling out the welcome mat (and hopefully the hot mulled wine).

What’s the big deal about Rovaniemi?

If you’ve never been, you might be wondering what makes Rovaniemi such a popular winter destination. In a word? Everything.

This is the capital of Finnish Lapland and home to all sorts of snow-covered delights. Think Northern Lights, reindeer safaris, ice fishing, snowmobiles, husky sledding, and cosy log cabins where you can sip on cloudberry liqueur while watching the snow fall outside.

And of course — let’s not forget the main event — Santa Claus himself. Rovaniemi is home to the world-famous Santa Claus Village, where visitors can meet the big man, send postcards with a special Lapland postmark, and generally revel in festive cheer.

Whether you’re five or fifty-five, trust us: it’s pretty magical.

A boost for Lapland’s booming tourism scene

Petri Vuori, Finavia’s (Finnish airport authority) Director of Route Development, says this new route is a big win for both Northern Irish travellers and Lapland’s tourism industry. The region has seen record numbers of visitors in recent years — and better air links mean even more people can experience the magic of the Arctic Circle.

Next winter, easyJet will be flying to Rovaniemi from 15 European cities, including Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Milan, London — and now Belfast. It’s all part of Lapland’s master plan to become the ultimate winter wonderland for European holidaymakers. And frankly, we’re on board with that idea.

Why this is fantastic news for Belfast

For Northern Irish families who’ve always dreamed of doing a proper Lapland trip, this is the news they’ve been waiting for. No more shelling out a small fortune on package tours or piecing together convoluted travel plans. Just a quick hop on an easyJet flight and you’re in the land of auroras and antlers.

It’s also a cracking option for couples, adventurers, and anyone who just wants to escape the drizzle and experience a true Arctic adventure — one that comes with a good dose of Finnish charm (and excellent sausages).

When to book

The first flights take off in December 2026, perfectly timed for Santa season and those prime Northern Lights months. With only two flights a week, demand is likely to be sky-high — so if you’re thinking of booking, don’t hang about.

Looks like this winter, Belfast travellers will finally be getting a direct sleigh ride to Lapland — and we can’t wait.