TUI has announced a significant strengthening of its services to Northern Finland and Lapland.
Not only is Finland an important market for TUI, but the country is also an important destination itself. Lapland is one of TUI’s most popular winter holiday destinations, and its popularity is expected to continue growing. This season, TUI will fly over 60,000 holidaymakers to Northern Finland, especially from the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Kuusamo is the fourth Boeing 737‑8 aircraft to be named after a destination in Northern Finland. The previous aircraft were ‘Kittilä’ (2018), ‘Rovaniemi’ (2022) and ‘Ivalo’ (2024). The new aircraft ‘Kuusamo’ was officially named with the Mayor of Kuusamo, Jouko Manninen, as its godparent.
On a wintery Sunday, TUI’s newest aircraft landed at Kuusamo Airport, soon to be officially named ‘Kuusamo’. The aircraft was welcomed by an important group of guests, including hotel partners, activity providers, representatives from Kuusamo’s tourism sector, and the airport manager.
After the name giving ceremony, the plane carried happy TUI customers back home, their minds full of the experiences they had enjoyed during their trip: husky rides, snowy landscapes and experiences with reindeer, two of them had also arrived at the ceremony. Unfortunately, reindeers are not yet able to pass through airport security, so this special guests had to follow the event from outside.
“TUI is a very important travel operator for Kuusamo. Last year, overnight stays by international visitors increased by as much as 14.2 percent, and in December their share was 70 percent of all overnight stays. TUI has played a key role in this growth. Having an aircraft named after Kuusamo is a true honour for us,” said Jouko Manninen, Mayor of Kuusamo.
“TUI holds an important position in Finnish tourism, and it is wonderful to see that travel to the stunning landscapes of Kuusamo continues to grow in popularity. We warmly welcome all TUI guests to Kuusamo and Kuusamo Airport,” said Petri Vuori, SVP, Route Development, Finavia.
“Our local partnerships are taking to the skies. Our new aircraft will be named after destinations across our holiday and partner countries, bringing the spirit of these regions into the heart of our fleet.”
“Tourism is more than travel; it connects people, regions and cultures, creating lasting bonds and shared opportunity. By giving our TUI Airline aircraft the names of our partner destinations, each plane becomes a flying ambassador, symbolising collaboration, celebrating local identity, and showcasing the strength of our relationships. With every take-off and landing, these aircraft will carry not only travellers, but the story of connection that unites us,” said Aage Dünhaupt, Director Communications Holiday Experiences & Airline, TUI
This winter season has been record‑breaking, and a large share of travelers arrive in Kuusamo on TUI’s flights. The aircraft named Kuusamo will surely continue to bring back all those wonderful memories for passengers, says Sari Päivärinta, Manager of Kuusamo Airport.
