Finnair Adds a Dash of Sunshine to Summer 2026 with New Southern Europe Routes

Finnair Adds a Dash of Sunshine to Summer 2026 with New Southern Europe Routes

If you’ve been daydreaming about sipping sangria in Spain, twirling pasta in Italy, or pretending you’re in “Mamma Mia!” on a Greek island (don’t worry, we won’t make you sing), Finnair just dropped some news that might make you start packing way too early.

The airline is giving its Southern European network a glow-up for summer 2026, adding new direct flights from Helsinki to Florence, Catania, Valencia, and the ever-glorious Kos. Translation? Your summer holiday excuses just quadrupled.

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The New Destinations

Let’s break it down:

• Florence – Starting April 2026, you can fly twice a week to the Tuscan capital through October. Expect art, architecture, wine that makes you forget box wine exists, and enough gelato to make your Fitbit give up entirely.
• Catania (Sicily) – Three weekly flights kick off in March 2026. Think beaches, volcanoes, cannoli, and locals who make espresso look like an Olympic sport.
• Valencia – Two weekly flights from April to October. You’ll find futuristic architecture, golden beaches, and paella so good you’ll be Googling “how to cook paella without burning the pan” for months afterward.
• Kos – The Greek island that’s basically a postcard. From May to October 2026, you’ll get two weekly flights to sunshine, turquoise waters, and the chance to dramatically say, “This is my island now.”

Why the Expansion?

Finnair knows its passengers. And it turns out, after months of surviving Nordic winters where daylight lasts about six minutes, people don’t just want sunshine—they need it. Vitamin D deficiency is real, and what better cure than booking a ticket to Southern Europe, where the sun actually remembers to show up?

The airline says these routes reflect “strong demand” from Finnish and Northern European travellers for Italian, Spanish, and Greek destinations during spring-to-autumn. Translation: people want more holidays, more sunshine, and maybe just one summer where they don’t have to wear socks with sandals.

A Holiday Menu That’s Already Pretty Full

These new routes are just the cherry on top of Finnair’s already-loaded Southern Europe sundae. The airline already flies to heavyweights like Rome, Milan, Madrid, Malaga, Santorini, and the Canary Islands. Basically, if there’s a Mediterranean coastline, Finnair probably has it covered.

But still—Florence, Catania, Valencia, and Kos add that extra bit of spice. It’s like Finnair looked at the holiday map and said, “You know what? Let’s give our passengers the full tapas platter.”

What This Means for You

For travellers, this expansion means you no longer have to argue over one summer destination. Want culture? Florence. Want beach and volcano drama? Catania. Want futuristic skylines with a side of paella? Valencia. Want to spend your days in flip-flops and never apologize for it? Kos.

And since Finnair is spacing these routes across the March-to-October holiday stretch, you could technically visit all four if you play your cards (and your vacation days) right. Imagine: start spring with Florence’s Renaissance charm, roll into summer with Sicilian beaches, spice things up in Spain by August, and finish the season with a Greek island tan that makes your coworkers suspicious.

Final Boarding Call

So, if you’ve been waiting for a sign to plan a holiday that involves more than just Netflix and surviving mosquito season in your backyard, Finnair has just handed it to you—on a boarding pass. Summer 2026 is shaping up to be one long Mediterranean love story.

Just don’t forget the sunscreen. Finnair can get you there, but SPF 50 is still your own responsibility.

Finnair’s Summer 2026 Southern Europe Expansion

• Florence: 2x weekly (Apr–Oct)
• Catania: 3x weekly (Mar–Oct)
• Valencia: 2x weekly (Apr–Oct)
• Kos: 2x weekly (May–Oct)

Pack your bags, your appetite, and maybe a pair of oversized sunglasses. Southern Europe is waiting.