Vuxi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Finnair starts flying to Australia on Sunday, October 25, 2026, with a daily Airbus A350 service between Helsinki and Melbourne that stops in Bangkok in both directions. It is the Finnish airline’s first route to Australia, and it gives travelers a one-stop link between Melbourne and Northern Europe on a single airline.
Because Finnair can sell seats on the Bangkok to Melbourne segment on its own, the route also adds a new nonstop option between Thailand and Melbourne. Tickets are on sale through Finnair’s website and travel agents. The timings below come from the launch announcement, so confirm the times on your own booking before you plan connections.
If Melbourne is your destination, our guide to things to do in Melbourne can help you plan your time in the city once you land from Helsinki or Bangkok.
- First flight: Sunday, October 25, 2026.
- Frequency: daily, per Finnair.
- Route: Helsinki, Bangkok and Melbourne, both directions.
- Aircraft: Airbus A350.
- Cabins: Business, Premium Economy and Economy.
Daily A350 Schedule via Bangkok
Finnair’s own destination guide says travelers can fly to Melbourne from Helsinki via Bangkok daily from October 25, 2026, on the Airbus A350. Melbourne Airport announced the route in December 2025, listing the flights as AY145 and AY146.
According to Melbourne Airport, AY146 leaves Melbourne at 3:40 p.m., reaches Bangkok at 8:50 p.m. and lands in Helsinki at 6:05 a.m. the next day. AY145 leaves Helsinki just after midnight, arrives in Bangkok at 4:30 p.m. and lands in Melbourne at 7:15 a.m. the following day. The early Helsinki arrival sets up morning connections across Finnair’s European network.
LoyaltyLobby reported that the Bangkok to Melbourne leg departs at 6:15 p.m. and the Bangkok to Helsinki leg at 10:30 p.m., and that a separate Bangkok-based cabin crew will work the Bangkok to Melbourne flights. Schedules on new routes can change before launch, so treat these times as a guide.
Bangkok to Melbourne Tickets on the Same Flight
Melbourne Airport said passengers will be able to book from Melbourne to Bangkok, or onward to Europe. That means the Bangkok stop works as a destination in its own right, not only as a technical stop. Travelers between Thailand and Victoria get another daily option alongside the airlines already on that route, and Finnair’s A350 cabins include its Business Class with the AirLounge seat and a Premium Economy cabin.
Finnair’s area vice president Pasi Kuusisto said the airline was excited to launch service to a new continent, with connections from Melbourne to Northern Europe and beyond. Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus welcomed daily services connecting Melbourne to Bangkok, Helsinki and beyond.
The timings mean a mid-afternoon departure from Melbourne and an early morning arrival in Helsinki, while the southbound flight reaches Melbourne early in the morning after an overnight leg from Bangkok. If you are connecting in Melbourne to a domestic flight, allow time for immigration, customs and biosecurity screening, and for a move to the domestic terminals.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Fly Melbourne to Europe from late October | Compare Finnair’s one stop via Bangkok with Gulf and Asian hubs. |
| Only need Bangkok to Melbourne | Price the Finnair segment against nonstop rivals. |
| Connect onward from Helsinki | Book on one ticket to protect the connection. |
| Want a Bangkok stopover | Check whether a multi-city fare allows it. |
Booking Tips for the Helsinki to Melbourne Route
Book on Finnair’s website or through a travel agent, and keep onward flights on the same ticket where possible, so a delay on one leg is the airline’s problem rather than yours. Finnair is a member of the oneworld alliance, so frequent flyers in partner programs should check whether the flights earn or can be booked with their points.
Check entry rules for every country on the itinerary. Travelers staying on the aircraft in Bangkok usually do not enter Thailand, but anyone breaking the journey there needs to meet Thai entry rules, and travelers to Australia need a valid visa or electronic travel authority before departure.
Melbourne Airport is also changing how arrivals are collected, as we covered in our story on new pick-up and drop-off zones from October 6. Other airlines are adding Melbourne flights this autumn too, including TransNusa’s daily Melbourne to Bali service.
October 25. First Finnair flight to Australia.
Daily. Airbus A350 via Bangkok.
One stop. Melbourne to Helsinki.
When does Finnair start flying to Melbourne?
The first flight is scheduled for Sunday, October 25, 2026, according to Finnair.
Is the Finnair Melbourne flight nonstop?
No. It stops in Bangkok in both directions on the same flight number.
Can I fly only Bangkok to Melbourne on Finnair?
Yes. Melbourne Airport said passengers can book Melbourne to Bangkok or onward to Europe.
What aircraft does Finnair use to Melbourne?
The Airbus A350, with Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.
