In October 2026, Finnair will begin operating new long-haul flights to Melbourne
” Every day, an Airbus A350 aircraft will operate the service, which is scheduled to depart from Helsinki via Bangkok. If the government gives its approval, the first flight is anticipated to take place on October 25, 2026.
Next autumn, Finnair will begin operating flights to Melbourne, Australia, as part of an expansion of its long-haul network. An Airbus A350 aircraft will fly the route via Bangkok every day.
“We can’t wait to launch service in a new continent. We can provide a genuinely unique bridge between the northern and southern hemispheres by linking Helsinki and Melbourne, two cities on opposite corners of the globe,” stated Christine Rovelli, Chief Revenue Officer at Finnair. “We anticipate that both European tourists travelling to Australia and Australians visiting northern Europe and beyond will find this new route appealing.”
Shortly after midnight, the flight is expected to leave Helsinki, arrive in Bangkok in the afternoon, and then continue on to Melbourne after a short break, getting there early the next day. In line with Finnair’s early morning departures throughout Europe, the return flights depart Melbourne in the afternoon, make a stop in Bangkok that evening and arrive in Helsinki early the following day. This structure guarantees excellent operational efficiency and effective use of Finnair’s A350 fleet in addition to seamless customer connections.
Through its Helsinki headquarters, Finnair’s Melbourne route connects Australia directly to its vast network, marking a brand new destination for the airline. Subject to government clearance, the first trip is anticipated to operate on October 25, 2026, and reservations for the Melbourne flights will be accepted on Finnair.com starting on December 18.
In addition to being a well-liked vacation spot, Melbourne is home to a sizable community of international students and expats as well as a sizable European diaspora.
Finnair’s network for 2026 includes Melbourne as well as 93 European destinations, 11 Asian destinations, seven North American destinations (including Toronto, which opens in summer 2026), and two Middle Eastern destinations.
