Victorians will soon have a new choice to connect with European family, friends and experiences, with Finnair announcing it will launch daily flights from Helsinki to Melbourne via Bangkok in October 2026.
The new service will operate using Airbus A350 aircraft, including Finnair’s unique business class and the AirLounge seat, (a no-recline seat that transforms into a bed), as well as Premium Economy and Economy.
Passengers will be able to book flights from Melbourne to Bangkok or onwards to Europe, with convenient connections through Finnair’s award-winning hub in Helsinki to around 90 destinations across Finnair’s European network.
Finnair is the official airline of Santa Claus and has daily year-round flights to Rovaniemi, on the Arctic Circle which is home to Santa's village, meaning travellers can easily visit Santa any day of the year.
From October 26 next year*, 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.
Finnair Area Vice President Pasi Kuusisto, said the new service would provide an attractive new option for both business and leisure travellers.
“We are excited to launch service to a new continent, offering seamless connections from Melbourne to Northern Europe and beyond,” he said.
“Our extensive network, and especially strong offering across the Nordics and Baltics, provides excellent options for both Australian leisure and business travellers.
“Melbourne is not only a popular holiday destination for Europeans, but also home to a large European diaspora, foreign students, and expatriates—making this route an attractive choice for these customer segments as well.”
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.
“Travel is what connects us and brings people together, so we're pleased to have Finnair launching daily services connecting Melbourne to Bangkok, Helsinki and beyond,” she said.
“Helsinki is one of Europe’s most innovative cities and Finland is regularly voted one of the happiest countries in the world, so to have a daily connection with one of the world’s most liveable cities means there is plenty at either end for people to explore and discover.
“These new flights will help bring more families together, as well as bringing thousands of extra people to our state each week, which will help support Victoria’s world-class tourism, dining and hospitality venues.
“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.
“We know that an average daily international flight is worth $190 million to the Victorian economy, so Finnair choosing Melbourne to launch its Australian operations is not only a huge vote of confidence, but also a boost for jobs in our state.
“The additional flights to Europe and Thailand will help give Australian holiday makers looking for either a cosy European winter or a warm beach getaway even more choice.
“This will be a record summer of international travel for Melbourne Airport with more than 2.5 million people expected through our international terminal across December and January.
“We’d encourage anyone travelling over the next few weeks to plan ahead, book parking online and allow extra time to get to the airport and find a car park.
“We’re building the infrastructure we need to support growth from airlines like Finnair, including our third runway which is due to open in 2031.”
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.
Visit Victoria CEO Brendan McClements 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.
“Partnering with Melbourne Airport and Finnair through this program will help build on Victoria’s record $43.7 billion visitor economy, which supports 288,000 jobs across the State.”
“This is also good news for Victorian producers and exporters who will no doubt benefit from additional access to international markets.”
*Subject to government approvals