Finnair has placed Switzerland at the centre of its 2026 network strategy, announcing on 13 November that it will open a twice-weekly Zurich–Kittilä service from late November 2026 through March 2027. The new flight will give Swiss leisure and corporate travellers a direct link to Finnish Lapland’s Levi ski area and burgeoning Arctic-energy projects, shaving roughly two hours off current itineraries that require a connection in Helsinki or Munich.
The Oneworld carrier’s winter schedule will see Airbus A319 aircraft depart Zurich on Thursdays and Sundays, timed for convenient weekend breaks and seamless onward connections at Finnair’s Helsinki hub. Chief Revenue Officer Christine Rovelli said Switzerland’s high-spending market and strong MICE segment made Zurich an obvious choice. Tour operators welcomed the move, noting that non-stop service enables three- and four-night packages that are difficult to sell when travellers lose a day in transit.
![Finnair to Launch First Non-Stop Zurich–Kittilä Route for Winter 2026]()
For global-mobility managers, the route offers more than ski holidays. Zurich-based mining, energy and research teams engaged in Arctic projects will be able to reach Kittilä with a single immigration touch-point, simplifying duty-of-care tracking and reducing overnight costs. The launch also dovetails with Zurich Airport’s installation of 52 new EES biometric kiosks, which go live on 17 November 2025 and are expected to speed up border formalities ahead of the peak winter season.
Finnair’s wider 2026 plan includes 12 additional European routes and deeper wet-lease cooperation with Danish operator Jettime, but the Zurich link is the only brand-new Swiss destination. Analysts say the airline may upgauge or add a Geneva service if load factors top 80 percent in the first season. Swiss inbound tourism officials, for their part, hope the publicity will generate reciprocal interest in Finnish visitors exploring the Alps, strengthening two-way winter mobility between the countries.
Tickets go on sale in December 2025, with introductory economy-class fares starting at CHF 239 return. Finnair Plus members will earn full tier points, and corporate customers can integrate the flight into existing BlueBiz agreements for consolidated reporting.
The Oneworld carrier’s winter schedule will see Airbus A319 aircraft depart Zurich on Thursdays and Sundays, timed for convenient weekend breaks and seamless onward connections at Finnair’s Helsinki hub. Chief Revenue Officer Christine Rovelli said Switzerland’s high-spending market and strong MICE segment made Zurich an obvious choice. Tour operators welcomed the move, noting that non-stop service enables three- and four-night packages that are difficult to sell when travellers lose a day in transit.
For global-mobility managers, the route offers more than ski holidays. Zurich-based mining, energy and research teams engaged in Arctic projects will be able to reach Kittilä with a single immigration touch-point, simplifying duty-of-care tracking and reducing overnight costs. The launch also dovetails with Zurich Airport’s installation of 52 new EES biometric kiosks, which go live on 17 November 2025 and are expected to speed up border formalities ahead of the peak winter season.
Finnair’s wider 2026 plan includes 12 additional European routes and deeper wet-lease cooperation with Danish operator Jettime, but the Zurich link is the only brand-new Swiss destination. Analysts say the airline may upgauge or add a Geneva service if load factors top 80 percent in the first season. Swiss inbound tourism officials, for their part, hope the publicity will generate reciprocal interest in Finnish visitors exploring the Alps, strengthening two-way winter mobility between the countries.
Tickets go on sale in December 2025, with introductory economy-class fares starting at CHF 239 return. Finnair Plus members will earn full tier points, and corporate customers can integrate the flight into existing BlueBiz agreements for consolidated reporting.
