Finnair is set to make its Australian debut on 25 October, launching daily flights to Melbourne via Bangkok using the Airbus A350-900.
The new service will extend the Finnish flag carrier’s network into Oceania, opening a new market for the airline as it prepares for the 2026/27 northern hemisphere winter season.
Helsinki–Melbourne Flights to Operate Daily
Flights AY145 and AY146 will connect Helsinki and Melbourne, with a stop at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport in both directions. The schedule will give passengers travelling between Australia and Europe another option through Helsinki, where Finnair offers onward connections across its Nordic, Baltic and wider European network.
The service will also carry passengers between Bangkok and Melbourne, allowing Finnair to tap into demand on the Southeast Asian–Australian sector.
Has Finnair Operated in Australia Before?
The Melbourne launch will be Finnair’s first scheduled service to Australia under its own network. However, the airline’s aircraft have operated in the country before.
In 2023, Finnair wet-leased Airbus A330 aircraft to Qantas. Under the arrangement, Qantas operated the aircraft on its own services, meaning their presence in Australia did not constitute a Finnair-operated scheduled route.
The distinction is important: the upcoming Melbourne service will be marketed and operated by Finnair itself, rather than through an aircraft-leasing arrangement with another carrier.
Melbourne Marks a New Network Addition
Finnair will deploy its Airbus A350-900 on the route, offering Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class. The aircraft will also provide cargo capacity between Australia and Europe, with shipments able to connect through Helsinki to destinations across the continent.
The inaugural flight is scheduled for 25 October 2026, subject to the necessary approvals.
