Finnair is to launch a new ‘Arctic Express’ service connecting the Finnish capital Helsinki with Roveniemi, the capital of Lapland, and Tromsø, the gateway to the Northern Lights.

The new flight will be the only direct connection between between Rovaniemi, ‘the hometown of Santa Claus’, and Tromsø.

Flights will operate twice weekly from 2 December throughout the winter.

Services will depart from Helsinki on Thursdays and Saturdays to Rovaniemi and Tromsø, before returning in the afternoon.

Finnair SVP Network & Revenue Management Antti Tolvanen said: “With this new connection, visitors to the Arctic region can conveniently combine both Lapland and Northern Norway in one trip.”

Flights will be operated by a 68-seater ATR aircraft.

This winter, the airline will also offer up to 10 daily direct flights from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, in addition to a daily service to Tromsø.

All services have been specifically timed to allow for easy connections from London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin, offering connections from as little as 35 minutes, said Finnair.