For summer 2023, Iberia has expanded service between Granada and Madrid to three flights daily. Additionally, from December 2023 and February 2024, the carrier will offer two weekly frequencies between Madrid and Rovaniemi in the Finnish Lapland.
On Thursday (April 13, 2023), Iberia announced an expansion of service between Granada and Madrid to three flights daily. During the summer season, which started last Sunday, Iberia Regional Air Nostrum will offer 1,256 flights, a 25.7 percent increase compared to summer 2022. Iberia has timed the Granada-Madrid schedule so that it covers the entire day, facilitating a same-day return, while providing convenient one-stop connections via Madrid to over 100 destinations, including eight U.S. gateways, and 18 destinations in 16 Latin American countries.
In Thursday’s announcement, Iberia’s Director – Alliances and Strategic Agreements, Victor Moneo, said,
“We have carefully designed a flight program that facilitates Granada's connectivity with the world, with the rest of our short, medium and long-haul flights, and for the different segments, since we are facilitating business trips and also tourism to this beautiful Andalusian city. To this end, we are also working together with the Granada Provincial Council to promote Granada as a tourist destination in the 134 destinations we fly to.”
In an earlier press release on Wednesday (April 12, 2023), Iberia announced the launch of new winter seasonal service between Madrid and Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland in northern Finland. The route will operate twice weekly with an Airbus A320neo from December 2, 2023 through February 10, 2024. Rovaniemi is known as the official hometown of Santa Claus and offers visitors a magical Christmas experience. Tickets are now available for booking with one-way fares from €199, based on a roundtrip purchase.
In Wednesday’s route announcement, Iberia’s Director – Commercial, Network and Alliances, Mª Jesús López-Solás, said,
“Rovaniemi is a destination in which we have seen growing interest from our customers, and our goal is to always offer the best connectivity from Spain with new routes that diversify our destination proposal and add value to the Madrid hub.”
Also commenting on the new service, Finavia’s Director of Route Development, Petri Vuori, said,
"We are delighted to welcome Iberia as the first airline to operate direct flights between the Spanish capital and Rovaniemi Airport, the official airport of Santa Claus! The route will make flying to Lapland from Madrid more accessible and will start right on time for the winter holidays. The two weekly flights will also connect with passengers coming from Iberia's extensive network through the hub of the Spanish airline in Madrid.”
Visit Rovaniemi’s General Manager, Sanna Kärkkäinen, added,
“Visit Rovaniemi warmly welcomes Iberia and its two weekly direct flights between Madrid and Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus®. The number of Spanish visitors to Rovaniemi has grown remarkably in recent years and is currently the fourth most important for Rovaniemi. It is a great connection for those looking for a magical winter holiday in Lapland.”
Since 2010, Rovaniemi has been the official hometown of Santa Claus, and tourists can visit the most famous resident all year long in the Santa Claus Village, located in the Arctic Circle. Santa Claus Village also hosts activities and features shops, restaurants and cafes. While Santa Claus is Rovaniemi’s best-know attraction, the Finnish Lapland also offers many other experiences ranging from the northern lights to winter sports and other activities such as husky and reindeer sleigh rides, and snowmobile tours. Visitors can also explore spectacular snow and ice creations.
Source: Iberia