Discover Airlines has launched a new scheduled service between Frankfurt am Main and Alta, Norway. With this connection, the Lufthansa Group's leisure airline now serves the northernmost European destination in the entire group and offers the only direct flight from Germany to the Arctic town. The inaugural flight, number 4Y1302, landed in Alta, located in the Norwegian province of Finnmark, on December 4th after a flight time of three and a half hours.
Discover Airlines will operate the Frankfurt–Alta route seasonally from December to mid-April with up to two weekly flights, on Thursdays and Sundays. This expansion of its route network in Northern Europe responds to the sharp increase in demand for winter and Arctic travel in recent years, particularly among German tourists. Due to its geographical location and low light pollution, the region is considered one of the best places in the world for observing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) from autumn to spring.
Alta is known as the "City of the Northern Lights" and serves as a starting point for various Arctic leisure activities. These include dog sledding, ski expeditions, stays in ice hotels, whale watching, and ice fishing. The region, also known for its culture and history, benefits greatly from the new direct connection. The availability of flights through Discover Airlines' channels, its parent company Lufthansa, and travel agencies makes it easier for German travelers to access the Arctic region.
Alta is Discover Airlines' third Norwegian destination, after Evenes and Bodø, and its fifth in Northern Europe. The airline already offers year-round service to Evenes, Kittilä in Finland, and Reykjavík in Iceland, while Bodø is served seasonally from Munich. Discover Airlines is also planning a new route to Ålesund for next summer, scheduled to begin in May 2026 from Frankfurt, underscoring the airline's ongoing expansion of its Northern European network.