The Season

Keep the evenings for the sky.

The aurora season is now under way, and for those who would rather not spend a long winter day on connecting flights, a private jet changes the shape of the trip.

You choose the airport nearest the lodge, depart when the forecast looks promising, and keep the evenings for the sky rather than the airport.

The aurora is seen under a dark, clear sky away from artificial light, generally between 22:00 and 02:00 according to NOAA. The season runs from September to early April. In Lapland and northern Norway it appears often even when geomagnetic activity is modest. Abisko in Sweden is known for its pocket of often-clear sky, with the best odds in September and October and again from December to March.

The aurora depends on cloud cover and is never guaranteed, so the best trips leave room for flexibility.

Where to Land

Seven gateways to the dark season.

Each airport opens up a different corner of the Arctic; the right choice is usually the one closest to the lodge.

Rovaniemi (RVN), Finnish Lapland

Arctic lodges and a wide choice of resorts.

Ivalo (IVL), Finnish Lapland

For Saariselkä, Inari and Kakslauttanen. It is often described as the EU's northernmost airport.

Kittilä (KTT), Finnish Lapland

For the resorts of Levi and Ylläs.

Kiruna (KRN), Swedish Lapland

For Abisko and the Aurora Sky Station.

Tromsø (TOS), Northern Norway

The Arctic's main viewing base.

Alta (ALF), Northern Norway

For Finnmark, which promotes itself as a northern lights capital.

Keflavik (KEF) / Reykjavik (RKV), Iceland

For Iceland's dark season, with Keflavik about 50 km from the capital.

Finland and Sweden

Lapland, from glass igloos to the Aurora Sky Station.

Black-and-white photograph of glass igloos at night in snow-laden Finnish Lapland, faint aurora overhead, soft interior

Three Finnish airports and one Swedish gateway put the lodges of Lapland within a short drive, though the transfers deserve as much planning as the flight.

In Finland, Rovaniemi, Ivalo and Kittilä open up different corners of Lapland. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, known for its glass igloos, sits near Saariselkä, around 37 km from Ivalo.

In Sweden, Kiruna is the gateway to Abisko, some 90 to 100 km away and about an hour and a quarter by road. Near the summit of Mount Nuolja, the Aurora Sky Station is reached by chairlift.

These ground transfers can be long and cold, so they are best arranged before you leave.

Norway and Iceland

Polar night in Tromsø, a shorter break in Iceland.

Black-and-white view of Tromsø during polar night: mountains, fjord and city lights under a dark sky with a faint band o

Norway offers the Arctic's busiest gateway; Iceland suits those with less time.

Tromsø is the Arctic's busiest international gateway and a natural base for aurora watching. The polar night there runs roughly from late November to mid-January, when the sun does not rise above the horizon.

Iceland suits a shorter break. Keflavik is the main international gateway, and Reykjavik's city airport sits a few kilometres from the centre.

Choosing the Aircraft

The aircraft is rarely the difficult part.

Black-and-white photograph of a midsize business jet being de-iced on a snowy Arctic apron at dusk, ground crew in cold-

From the UK and Western Europe, a light or midsize jet comfortably covers the routes north; the real work is operational.

A light or midsize jet comfortably covers the routes to Lapland, Tromsø and Iceland. Flight times typically fall between three and four hours, depending on the departure point, the aircraft and winds, and should be confirmed against the flight plan.

The days are very short in midwinter. Cold-weather operations, including de-icing, need confirming in advance. Slots at seasonal airfields such as Rovaniemi, Kittilä and Tromsø can be tight in peak season. Ground handling and onward transfers should be arranged before you arrive.

The Oryx Perspective

Following the clear nights, not a fixed itinerary.

A successful aurora trip comes down to coordination: the airport closest to the lodge, a transfer that works in deep cold, and a schedule that follows the clear nights rather than a fixed itinerary.

Oryx Global Aviation plans around these details so that the journey supports the experience. Charter allows the aircraft, the airfield and the timing to be matched to each trip, whether that is a long weekend in Tromsø or a week in Finnish Lapland.

For clients who value access over assets, the flexibility to choose the right gateway and move when the sky allows is what makes the northern lights worth chasing.

The aurora depends on cloud cover and is never guaranteed. Flight times are indicative and should be confirmed against the flight plan; distances and transfer times are approximate.