Finnair To Launch Melbourne-Helsinki Flights In October 2026
Finnair will become the second mainland European flying to Australia
Australian skies will soon welcome a new airline, with Finnair to connect Melbourne and Helsinki via Bangkok with a new daily service from October 2026. While the new service is still subject to government approval, Finnair will begin selling tickets for the new route later today.
Finnair’s first flight to Australia is expected to depart Helsinki on 25 October 2026. The first service out of Melbourne is planned for 26 October 2025. Flights will be operated by the Airbus A350, featuring the innovative non-reclining AirLounge seat in Business Class, plus Premium Economy and Economy seating.
The schedule sees flight AY146 soar out of Melbourne at 3:40pm, arriving into Bangkok at 8:50pm and then Helsinki at 6:05am the following day. The return leg, AY145 is wheels up in Helsinki just after midnight, stopping in Bangkok at 4:30pm and landing in Melbourne at 7:15am the following morning.
The new daily service will offer more options for Victorians travelling to both Thailand and Europe, with the Melbourne-Bangkok leg open for booking on its own. The fifth-freedom option adds competition and will hopefully drive down prices, with Thai Airways and Jetstar also operating on the route.
Passengers travelling onwards to Europe will gain access to Finnair’s expansive network, with connections from Helsinki to around 90 destinations across Europe.
Finnair is the flag carrier of Finland, and also the official airline of Santa Claus. Travellers can visit Santa any day of the year, with the carrier offering daily flights to Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle, home to Santa's village.
Finnair Area Vice President Pasi Kuusistom explained that the airline’s extensive network provides excellent options for Australian travellers.
“We are excited to launch service to a new continent, offering seamless connections from Melbourne to Northern Europe and beyond.”
“Melbourne is not only a popular holiday destination for Europeans, but also home to a large European diaspora, foreign students, and expatriates - making this route an attractive choice for these customer segments as well,” adds Kuusistom.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said Finnair’s new service was a huge win for Victoria.
“Helsinki is one of Europe’s most innovative cities and Finland is regularly voted one of the happiest countries in the world, so to have a daily connection with one of the world’s most liveable cities means there is plenty at either end for people to explore and discover.”
“The additional flights to Europe and Thailand will help give Australian holiday makers looking for either a cosy European winter or a warm beach getaway even more choice,” said Argus.
How To Book Finnair With Qantas Points & Avios
Finnair has already released award space to its own members via the Finnair Plus loyalty scheme, which uses Avios as its points currency. Finnair redemption rates are calculated using region-based award charts.
In Australia, the easiest way to earn Avios is by transferring American Express MR Points to British Airways or Qatar Airways, which also use Avios. Members can freely transfer Avios between Finnair Plus, British Airways Executive Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club at a 1:1 rate.
Booking with Qantas Points is also an option, thanks to Finnair being part of the Oneworld alliance. Qantas prices by distance, and for the new service, will require a higher rate than Finnair charges. That said, earning Qantas Points in Australia is very easy.
Here's the Qantas Points / Finnair Avios cost for Finnair's new service to Australia:
For those with Avios - Business Class from Australia to Europe is currently pricing out at 62,500 Avios one way!! This is likely a mistake, so get these while you can!
