Air Malta operated a programme of charter flights from its UK bases to Rovaniemi Airport into Finish Lapland, North West of Russia, over the Christmas period. The airport bears the Official Airport of Santa Claus trademark within the EU and several other countries.

The programme consisted of a number of day-trips and one-night stays for a specialist UK tour operator who offered packages for visitors wanting to see the home-land of Santa Claus in Finland. The packages were directed for the family market with young children who wanted to take a closer look at Santa Claus, his reindeer and village. A spokesperson for the charterer said, “This year we moved over 25,000 passengers on 12 airlines and we are of the opinion that Air Malta was the best carrier”.

Air Malta operated the charters with an Airbus 319 aircraft direct into Rovaniemi Airport.