Finnair has chosen Switzerland as one of three core markets to receive new non-stop services to Finnish Lapland, announcing on 13 November 2025 that it will launch a twice-weekly Zurich–Kittilä flight for winter 2026.
The move is part of a broader network expansion that sees the Oneworld carrier open 12 additional European routes next summer and deepen its wet-lease cooperation with Danish partner Jettime. For Swiss travellers, however, the headline news is the first ever direct link between Zurich and Kittilä, the gateway to Levi’s ski resorts and northern-lights tourism. Flights are scheduled to operate on Thursdays and Sundays from late November 2026 through March 2027, timed for convenient weekend get-aways and smooth long-haul connections at Finnair’s Helsinki hub.
![Finnair Adds Direct Zurich–Kittilä Service as Part of 2026 Network Expansion]()
Finnair Chief Revenue Officer Christine Rovelli framed the Zurich addition as a strategic play to tap Switzerland’s high-spending leisure and MICE segments while giving Finnish Lapland year-round connectivity. Switzerland already ranks among the top ten source markets for winter tourism in northern Finland, but travellers have traditionally faced a connection in Helsinki or Munich. A non-stop option cuts journey times by roughly two hours and allows tour operators to package three- and four-night itineraries more efficiently.
For corporate mobility managers, the route offers fresh duty-of-care advantages. Employees bound for Arctic mining, energy or research projects can now reach Kittilä with a single immigration touch point, avoiding potential Schengen re-checks at intermediate airports. The schedule also reduces overnight costs and expands weekend-based rotation patterns for project crews.
Industry analysts note that Zurich Airport is in the midst of expanding its passport-control hall to accommodate the EU’s new Entry/Exit System; extra Nordic capacity will therefore dovetail with added e-gates and biometric kiosks that go live on 17 November 2025. If the Zurich–Kittilä trial succeeds, Finnair has hinted it could upgauge the service or add Geneva, further boosting Swiss outbound mobility to Finland’s north.
The move is part of a broader network expansion that sees the Oneworld carrier open 12 additional European routes next summer and deepen its wet-lease cooperation with Danish partner Jettime. For Swiss travellers, however, the headline news is the first ever direct link between Zurich and Kittilä, the gateway to Levi’s ski resorts and northern-lights tourism. Flights are scheduled to operate on Thursdays and Sundays from late November 2026 through March 2027, timed for convenient weekend get-aways and smooth long-haul connections at Finnair’s Helsinki hub.
Finnair Chief Revenue Officer Christine Rovelli framed the Zurich addition as a strategic play to tap Switzerland’s high-spending leisure and MICE segments while giving Finnish Lapland year-round connectivity. Switzerland already ranks among the top ten source markets for winter tourism in northern Finland, but travellers have traditionally faced a connection in Helsinki or Munich. A non-stop option cuts journey times by roughly two hours and allows tour operators to package three- and four-night itineraries more efficiently.
For corporate mobility managers, the route offers fresh duty-of-care advantages. Employees bound for Arctic mining, energy or research projects can now reach Kittilä with a single immigration touch point, avoiding potential Schengen re-checks at intermediate airports. The schedule also reduces overnight costs and expands weekend-based rotation patterns for project crews.
Industry analysts note that Zurich Airport is in the midst of expanding its passport-control hall to accommodate the EU’s new Entry/Exit System; extra Nordic capacity will therefore dovetail with added e-gates and biometric kiosks that go live on 17 November 2025. If the Zurich–Kittilä trial succeeds, Finnair has hinted it could upgauge the service or add Geneva, further boosting Swiss outbound mobility to Finland’s north.
