Oneworld member carrier Finnair has revealed plans to add Melbourne to its route network, effective 25 October 2026. The service will be a continuation of Finnair’s daily service to Bangkok, operated by Airbus A350 jets.
The Melbourne route marks a completely new destination for Finnair and connects Australia directly to Finnair’s extensive network via Finnair’s Helsinki hub.
As a oneworld member carrier, it would be expected fellow oneworld member and Australian flag-carrier, Qantas, to forge a reciprocal codeshare partnership with Finnair. Currently, Qantas has a multi-year dry-lease of two triple-cabin Finnair A330-300 aircraft, which are utilised on its Sydney-Singapore and Sydney-Honolulu routes.
“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.”
Flight AY146 will depart Melbourne every day at 3:40pm, arriving into Bangkok at 8:50pm and then Helsinki at 6:05am the following day, while the return flight AY145 will leave Helsinki just after midnight, stopping in Bangkok at 4:30pm and landing in Melbourne at 7:15am the following morning.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said Finnair would become one of just a small number of European airlines to fly to Australia using its own aircraft and would help deliver huge benefits to Victoria.
“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,” Argus said.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll said the new flights represented a massive win for Victoria.
“Finnair’s decision to make Melbourne their Australian gateway brings thousands of visitors each week, strengthens our ties to European markets, and boosts our economy while creating jobs across tourism, hospitality and trade,” he said.
Brendan McClements, CEO of Visit Victoria said the addition of another major international airline would give travellers more choice and make it easier to visit Victoria.
“The Visit Victoria Industry Partnerships Program promotes Victoria as a must visit destination and will help amplify the airline’s new service in market while creating demand and converting it into visitation,” he said.
The Melbourne flights will be available for booking on Finnair.com from today, subject to government approval.
In addition to Melbourne, Finnair’s network for 2026 comprises a total of 93 European destinations, 11 Asian destinations, seven North American destinations, including Toronto, which opens in summer 2026, and two destinations in the Middle East.
