Santa will let Finnair do the flying when he visits New Delhi.

Finnish carrier Finnair's soon to be introduced non-stop flights between Helsinki and New Delhi would be accompanied by some happy chortling, with the airline planning to fly Santa Claus from the Arctic Circle to the tropics to promote the service.

The Finnish Santa Claus, who lives above the Arctic Circle in Lapland region and each year receives over 11 million letters from believers across the world, including India, would visit New Delhi shortly after the inaugural flight on October 30.

"It (Santa's visit) will be part of the promotional campaign," Finnair President and CEO Jukka Hienonen said.
Finland already considers Santa Claus as its most important PR person who receives loads of visitors at his home in Rovaniemi in Lapland.

In fact, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis by the Finnish Tourist Board lists Santa as Finland's unique selling point, besides the country's serene environment.
Santa Claus, who has his own post office in Finland, will take part in the official opening of the airline's services in New Delhi on November nine and will also visit kindergartens and some hospitals in the Indian Capital.

Finnair, more than 40 per cent of whose business is already Asia related, is betting big on the direct India service, which would be scaled up to five a week by summer 2007 from the initial three flights.

For more information about meeting Santa in Lapland this Christmas click here.