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Why is British Airways talking about Santa Claus, opera and wildlife this month?

This August, British Airways is looking ahead to winter adventures, celebrating the arts, and taking a stand against wildlife crime. Here’s what’s happening

06/08/2026

The charming Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi (Getty Images)

Fly to Santa’s hometown this Christmas

British Airways is adding a touch of Arctic magic to its winter lineup. From 4 December to 4 January, the airline will operate twice-weekly flights from London Gatwick to Rovaniemi, Finland – the official hometown of Father Christmas and one of Europe’s most enchanting winter destinations. Visitors can experience Santa Claus Village, chase the northern lights, explore magical forests, and enjoy snow safaris. Rovaniemi becomes BA’s second Lapland destination, complementing the existing Ivalo service and giving customers even greater choice for Finnish winter getaways.

Fly direct to Rovaniemi

British Airways’ new amenity kits are filled with anatomē goodies

Collect a piece of original British art on your next flight

Limited-edition amenity kits designed by British artists are rolling out this summer on business-class flights from Heathrow and Gatwick. In the continued collaboration between British Airways, luxury apothecary brand anatomē, and Rise Art, four new washbag designs will feature prints by artists Naomi Edmondson, Kit Boyd, Amelia Coward and Charlotte Rosemary. Inside, you’ll find anatomē’s botanical balm and hydrating moisturiser so you can experience a touch of British creativity on every journey.

Visit Club World

A scene from The Ghosts of Versailles at the Wexford Opera Festival (Patrick Redmond)

Celebrate 75 years of the Wexford Festival Opera

With the Wexford Festival Opera celebrating its landmark 75th year, British Airways is proud to announce its sponsorship of the event taking place on 15-31 October. Founded in 1951, the festival welcomes more than 30,000 visitors annually from across Ireland and more than 25 countries worldwide. The festival generates €10m for the local economy and supports the next generation of opera singers through its education programmes and the Wexford Factory academy. The sponsorship marks another chapter in British Airways’ ongoing commitment to arts and culture, following recent partnerships including American Express presents BST Festival and the BRIT School. This summer also sees British Airways step up as Official Airline Partner of Sinfonia Smith Square, providing vital travel support to bring 34 world-class young musicians from 14 countries to London for an intensive ten-month fellowship.

Book your festival tickets

Many macaws are critically endangered (Damon Hall)

Stand against wildlife trafficking

British Airways is stepping up its fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. As signatories to the Buckingham Palace Declaration, the airline maintains a zero-tolerance approach, supported through colleague training and an expanded wildlife champion network of more than 200 colleagues. In 2025, British Airways became an IATA IEnvA Wildlife certified airline, providing independent assurance that robust policies, procedures and controls are embedded across its operations. This summer, a customer awareness campaign at Terminal 5 marks the ten-year anniversary of the Declaration, encouraging travellers to report suspected trafficking and think twice about wildlife souvenirs.

Find out more at BA Better World

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