Getting to Kiruna by air is the easy part. The last leg is where trips go wrong: reaching Jukkasjärvi or Abisko, landing late at a terminal that’s about to close, or finding there’s no ATM when you need to pay for the bus.
When you need this
You’re planning a winter trip to Kiruna, the Icehotel, Abisko or Kebnekaise and choosing how to get north. You’re hunting for a direct flight from Germany or Denmark. Or you’ve just landed and need to get somewhere that isn’t Kiruna town.
Who flies to Kiruna
Kiruna Airport is one of the ten state airports run by Swedavia, and it’s the main air gateway to Swedish Lapland. The year-round route is Stockholm Arlanda–Kiruna, flown daily by SAS and Norwegian, about 90 minutes in the air. Both airlines fly their domestic flights from Arlanda’s Terminal 5.
On a domestic flight there’s no border check. Swedavia says an ID card or driving licence is enough, but airlines may ask for other ID, so carry the passport or national ID card you entered Sweden with.
Two changes for winter 2026–27 matter:
| Date | What changes |
|---|---|
| 25 October 2026 | SAS starts keeping an aircraft overnight in Kiruna: an early-morning flight south and a late-evening flight north |
| 28 November 2026 – 25 March 2027 | SAS high season: three daily weekday flights Stockholm–Kiruna |
The early flight south is useful if you’re connecting to a long-haul flight at Arlanda the same day. Bringing skis? Add them when you book the flight, not at the airport. Our domestic flights guide has the SAS and Norwegian rules.
Direct flights from Europe in winter
Outside Stockholm, the choice is narrow. For winter 2026–27 the destination company, Kiruna Lappland, lists exactly two international routes:
| Route | Airline | Season | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copenhagen–Kiruna | SAS | 17 December 2026 – 7 March 2027 | Thursday, Friday, Sunday |
| Düsseldorf–Kiruna | Eurowings | 6 February – 20 March 2027 | Saturday |
The rest of the year, every scheduled route runs through Arlanda. These flights are international, so bring a passport or national ID card valid for the Schengen area. Aggregator sites sometimes still list older charter routes that aren’t on the 2026–27 list, so check with the airline before you plan around one.
The other option is across the border: Norway’s Evenes airport has more international flights and is about three hours by car from Kiruna. Sweden has charged no aviation tax since 1 July 2025, whichever way you come.
From the airport into Kiruna
The airport is about 9 km from Kiruna centre. An airport bus (flygbuss) runs between the airport and central Kiruna every day of the year. It runs under the local public transport contract, operated by Falcks Omnibus, via Hjalmar Lundbomsvägen and Malmvägen. Its timetable is set around flight arrivals and departures.
Three things to know:
- Buy your ticket on board, with cash or most credit and debit cards.
- Kiruna Airport has no ATM. Arrive with a card that works or Swedish kronor in cash.
- If your flight is late, tell the driver, especially on a late arrival, so the bus waits.
Taxis wait at the terminal, and you don’t have to take the first car in line. Ask whether a fixed price (fast pris) applies. If you’re given one, it should show on the meter before the trip starts. You can also pre-book a taxi to meet your flight. Hire cars are available at the airport at arrival and departure times.
The terminal opens about an hour before the first departure and closes about 30 minutes after the last arrival. There’s nowhere to stay overnight, so it’s no place to wait for a dawn flight or a late pickup.
To the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi
Jukkasjärvi lies about 17 km east of Kiruna on the E10, roughly 15 km by road from the airport, a 15–20 minute drive. The airport bus doesn’t go there. Your options:
- The Icehotel’s own transfer bus from the airport or the train station, in the winter season only. Book it by 3 p.m. the day before you arrive.
- A dog-sled transfer, offered from December to April. It takes about 75 minutes from the airport.
- A taxi pre-booked to meet your flight, or a hire car.
To Abisko and the mountains
Abisko is about 104 km by road from the airport, roughly an hour and a half of pure driving. It isn’t a quick taxi ride. Go via Kiruna:
- Bus line 91 (Kiruna–Abisko–Björkliden–Riksgränsen) runs in a winter season (February–May) and a summer season (June–September). The dates are set each year, so check them.
- The Narvik-bound train stops at Kiruna station and continues to Abisko. For STF’s mountain station, the stop is Abisko Turiststation. Kiruna’s station is about 6 km from the centre and unstaffed, and a free shuttle meets every train.
- A hire car, taxi or pre-booked transfer, which is the only option between bus seasons.
In summer 2026 a new direct bus ran from Kiruna Airport to Narvik twice a day in each direction, June to September, stopping at Abisko, Björkliden and Riksgränsen. Whether it returns in 2027 hasn’t been announced.
Heading for Kebnekaise? Go into Kiruna and take the seasonal Nikkaluoktaexpressen bus to Nikkaluokta. If you’re going to the Laponia area, Gällivare has its own state-procured flights from Arlanda, flown by Amapola under a contract running to 26 October 2027. See our car-free guide to Sweden for the full last-mile picture.
Fly or take the night train?
The Lapland night train has changed a lot in 2026. Since 13 April it has run once a day each way, and until 12 December 2026 passengers for Kiruna and Abisko change trains at Boden around 6 a.m. From 13 December SJ expects through cars again.
| Flight | Night train | |
|---|---|---|
| Time from Stockholm | About 90 minutes in the air | A night |
| Departures | SAS and Norwegian daily; three a weekday in high season | One a day |
| Change | None from Arlanda | At Boden around 6 a.m. until 12 December 2026 |
| Hotel night | Needed | Saved |
In peak winter the flight may be the only seat left. A lot of travelers fly one way and take the night train the other. That way you save a day in one direction and a hotel night in the other.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating Abisko as close to the airport. It’s about 104 km away. Plan the train, line 91 in season, or a hire car.
- Landing late with nothing booked. Pre-book a taxi for Jukkasjärvi or Abisko, or book the Icehotel transfer by 3 p.m. the day before.
- Planning to sleep at the airport before a dawn flight. The terminal closes after the last arrival, so stay in town.
- Assuming the train is the easy option in autumn 2026. Until 12 December it means a 6 a.m. change at Boden.
Practical information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stockholm–Kiruna | SAS and Norwegian, daily, year-round; about 90 minutes |
| Winter international routes 2026–27 | SAS Copenhagen 17 Dec – 7 Mar; Eurowings Düsseldorf 6 Feb – 20 Mar |
| Airport to Kiruna centre | About 9 km; airport bus timed to flights, pay on board (card or cash) |
| Airport to Jukkasjärvi | About 15 km, 15–20 minutes; Icehotel winter transfer, taxi or car |
| Airport to Abisko | About 104 km; line 91 in season, train from Kiruna, or car |
| Terminal hours | About 1 hour before first departure to 30 minutes after last arrival |
| ATM at the airport | None |
| Fares (flights, bus, taxi) | Not published here — they change; check with the airline or operator |
| Swedish aviation tax | None since 1 July 2025 |
| Delay compensation | €250 for arrival 3+ hours late, unless extraordinary circumstances |
FAQ
Which airlines fly to Kiruna?
SAS and Norwegian fly between Stockholm Arlanda and Kiruna daily all year, in about 90 minutes. In winter 2026–27, SAS also flies from Copenhagen from 17 December to 7 March, and Eurowings flies from Düsseldorf on Saturdays from 6 February to 20 March 2027. Check the airlines for the live schedule.
How far is Kiruna Airport from the town?
About 9 km from Kiruna centre. An airport bus run under the public transport contract connects the airport with central Kiruna every day of the year, on a timetable adjusted to flight arrivals and departures. You buy the ticket on board, with cash or most cards. The airport has no ATM.
How do I get from Kiruna Airport to the Icehotel?
Jukkasjärvi lies about 17 km east of Kiruna, 15–20 minutes by road from the airport. In winter the Icehotel runs a transfer bus you book by 3 p.m. the day before, plus dog-sled transfers from December to April. Otherwise pre-book a taxi to meet your flight, or pick up a hire car at the airport.
How do I get from Kiruna Airport to Abisko?
Abisko is about 104 km by road from the airport. Go into Kiruna and take seasonal bus line 91 (February–May and June–September) or the Narvik-bound train from Kiruna station. Outside the bus seasons, use a hire car, taxi or pre-booked transfer. In summer 2026 a direct airport–Narvik bus also stopped at Abisko.
Is it better to fly or take the night train to Kiruna?
Flying takes about 90 minutes from Arlanda; the night train takes a night but saves a hotel. Since April 2026 one train runs a day, and until 12 December 2026 you change at Boden around 6 a.m. Many travelers fly one way and take the train the other.
Can I fly directly to Kiruna from outside Sweden?
Only in winter, and only from two cities in 2026–27: Copenhagen with SAS and Düsseldorf with Eurowings. The rest of the year every scheduled route runs through Stockholm Arlanda. Norway’s Evenes airport, about three hours by car, is another option with more international flights.
Can I sleep at Kiruna Airport before an early flight?
No. The terminal opens about an hour before the first departure and closes about 30 minutes after the last arrival, and the airport offers no overnight option. Stay in Kiruna and take the airport bus, which is timed to departures, or a pre-booked taxi.
Related guides
- Domestic flights in Sweden: ski baggage, Arlanda terminals and your delay rights.
- The night train to Lapland: the other way north, with the Boden change explained.
- Kiruna: what to do once you’ve landed.
- The Icehotel: Jukkasjärvi’s season, rooms and visits.
- Northern lights in Sweden: why most winter visitors fly in, and when to go.
Facts verified 2026-09-25. Sources: Swedavia, Kiruna Lappland, SAS, Icehotel, Trafikverket, the European Commission — full register in this topic’s source file. No fares are published here; they change constantly. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.