Finnair will introduce a new long-haul route to Melbourne, Australia via Bangkok next fall.
Finnair will introduce a new long-haul route to Melbourne, Australia via Bangkok next fall.
From October 25, 2026, Finnair will operate daily flights using Airbus A350 aircraft from Helsinki to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, before continuing onward to Melbourne. The first return flight will depart Melbourne the following day on October 26, 2026.
According to Finnair, the outbound flight – AY145 - will depart Helsinki after midnight before arriving in Bangkok at 1630H. Following a brief stop, it will then arrive at Melbourne at 0715H the following morning. The return flight – AY146 - will depart Melbourne at 1540H. After its stop in Bangkok around 2050H it will arrive back in Helsinki the following morning at 0605H– in time for connections to Finnair's 90 destinations across Europe.
“We are very excited to introduce service to a new continent. By connecting Helsinki and Melbourne, two cities on opposite sides of the world, we can offer a truly unique bridge between the northern and southern hemispheres,” says Christine Rovelli, Chief Revenue Officer at Finnair. “We expect that this new route will appeal to travellers from Europe heading to Australia, as well as Australians exploring northern Europe and beyond.”
Finnair will be the lone European Union (EU)-based airline to operate flights to/from Melbourne. The new Helsinki-Bangkok-Melbourne service will add to the small number of European airlines that fly to Australia using its own aircraft. Passengers traveling between Melbourne – along with most other Australian cities – usually need to make a stop in a secondary city on the way to Europe in Southeast Asia such as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, or through the Middle East hubs of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha.
“Finnair joins the likes of Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines in choosing Melbourne as its first Australian destination, and we’re excited by the extra choice that offers consumers,” said Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus.
In addition to the new air link between Helsinki and Melbourne, Finnair will also add to its current twice daily flights between Helsinki and Bangkok. Both flights use Airbus A350 aircraft.
Finnair will become the third airline to operate flights between Bangkok and Melbourne, joining THAI Airways and Qantas-backed budget carrier Jetstar.
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