The German airline Lufthansa will launch direct flights between Munich and Oulu on December 16, 2023. The flights will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
From a business perspective, the flight launching will open a new gateway that connects Oulu with the heart of Europe.
According to BusinessOulu Director Juha Ala-Mursula, “this is a historic breakthrough that will provide Oulu Region businesses with access to the vital German markets and, more broadly, Central Europe."
Yrjötapio Kivisaari, Managing Director of Oulu Tourism Ltd (Oulun Matkailu Oy), expresses that the opening of the new flight connection is the is the result of long-term effort:
– Oulun Matkailu Oy and BusinessOulu have been systematically negotiating and working on the route's opening for a year and a half. We have met Lufthansa representatives several times in Finland and abroad. Finavia has also taken part in the negotiations, says Kivisaari
Based on information from Oulun Matkailu Oy, the new flight connection is expected to increase winter tourism in the Oulu region and to enable diverse cooperation with German tour operators. Nearly 4,000 new German tourists could arrive in the region this winter.
– Oulu is finally on our route map! We have been working hard for several months to include this missing piece in our Finnish destinations. This is the perfect moment to launch a route to and from Oulu, and it will fit in perfectly with the other routes of the Lufhtansa Group airlines, mentioned Patrick Borg Hedley, Country Manager Finland for Lufhtansa Group airlines.
Summer flights in the future?
Lufthansa flights between Oulu and Munich will be available from 18 July. Winter flights will operate until the end of March 2024.
Oulu Tourism (Oulun Matkailu Oy) and BusinessOulu hope that bookings will start as soon as possible.
A decision on the continuation of the route for next summer will already be taken during this autumn. According to Kivisaari “the profitability of the route will be calculated from the moment it opens.”
– We hope that the good success of the route would guarantee its continuity and bring tourists to the Oulu region in the future as well. In the future, the air connection would also enable business travel and leisure travel for Oulu residents in the direction of Europe.
It is hoped that the new flight connection will bring healthy competition and increase passenger numbers at Oulu Airport.
Petri Vuori, director of Finavia's route development says:
– The route opening is great news for Oulu Airport, which carries tradition as an important part of Finavia's airport network and the accessibility of Finland. Lufthansa's route to Central Europe significantly improves the connections of Oulu region residents to the world, connecting them to the comprehensive route network of Munich Airport. The route also opens a new connection for tourism heading north from Germany.
Additional information:
Juha Ala-Mursula, Director, BusinessOulu
+358 40 559 7020, juha.ala-mursula@businessoulu.com
Juuso Rönnholm, Public Affairs Manager, BusinessOulu
+358 50 574 1504, juuso.ronnholm@businessoulu.com