Finnair has announced a surprise new long-haul destination for its expanding network: Melbourne!
The airline plans to begin service in late October 2026, operating daily with an Airbus A350 on a Helsinki–Bangkok–Melbourne routing.
The first flight is expected to operate on 25 October 2026, subject to government approval, and flights are scheduled to be available for booking from later today.
Finnair positions the new route as a two-way opportunity: for European travellers heading to Australia, and for Australians connecting via Helsinki into northern Europe and beyond.
According to the announcement, the schedule is designed to support connections and aircraft utilisation:
- Outbound: Depart Helsinki shortly after midnight, arrive Bangkok in the afternoon, then continue to Melbourne after a brief stop, arriving the following morning.
- Return: Depart Melbourne in the afternoon, stop in Bangkok in the evening, then arrive in Helsinki early the next day, timed to connect with morning departures across Europe.
Finnair’s current A350 long-haul Business Class product is built around the Collins “AirLounge” seat, designed with a fixed, contoured shell and no traditional recline.
Arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, Finnair describes the seat as intentionally “furniture-like,” aiming to increase personal space and allow multiple sitting positions (including sitting cross-legged), while still enabling a lie-flat sleeping surface. Instead of the seat moving, it’s all up to the passenger to rearrange and get comfortable!
The airline also offers premium economy in a 2-4-2 layout …
… and economy in a 3-3-3 layout.
Finnair says its 2026 network is planned to include 93 European destinations, 11 Asian destinations, seven North American destinations (including Toronto opening in summer 2026), and two Middle East destinations.
Finnair is a member of the oneworld alliance and counts Qantas as a partner for earning and redeeming frequent flyer points.