Over the Christmas period, Air Malta operated a schedule of charter flights from its UK bases to Rovaniemi Airport in Finish Lapland, northwest of Russia. This airport bears the Official Airport of Santa Claus trademark in 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 homeland of Santa Claus in Finland. These packages were targeted for the family market with young children who wanted to take a closer look at Santa Claus, his reindeers 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 these charters with an Airbus 319 aircraft direct to Rovaniemi Airport. The airline based this aircraft, together with other two aircraft, in the UK for the current winter season. The charter flights were additional business traffic for Air Malta over and above the normal flying programmes to winter sun destinations including the Canary Islands and Egypt. The airline selected appropriate in-flight entertainment and decorated the cabin for these flights.

Air Malta is recognised as a pioneer in inclusive-tour charter flights, which are operated on behalf of leading European tour operators out of major holiday airports but especially out of regional airports.