Finnair to launch flights to Melbourne, opening new Europe connections for Australians

Finnair will launch daily flights to Melbourne in October 2026, marking a significant expansion of its Australian footprint and giving travellers a new one-stop option to Europe via Bangkok.

The new service will operate using Finnair’s long-haul Airbus A350 fleet, featuring the airline’s signature AirLounge seat. It’s also a win for Qantas Frequent Flyer and other oneworld airline members, who’ll have access to even more reward seats with low carrier charges.

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. 

A Nordic product for long-haul travellers

Passengers on the Melbourne route can expect Finnair’s modern long-haul experience, including its distinctive AirLounge Business Class seat, which replaces the traditional recline mechanism with a fixed-shell design. Yes, that means there’s no recline, but you can still convert it into a lie-flat bed.

Finnair’s Airbus A350 also offers Premium Economy and Economy. Where Finnair falters a bit is in-flight food and beverage: menus tend to have fewer options than the competition, and some alcoholic drinks are also chargeable in long-haul Economy.

AY146 will depart Melbourne every day at 3:40pm, arriving in 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. 

Strong reward seat opportunities for Qantas Frequent Flyer members

For Australian points collectors, the launch is particularly notable because Finnair is a oneworld partner of Qantas, meaning the new Melbourne flights are expected to be bookable using Qantas Frequent Flyer points.

Historically, Finnair has offered excellent Business Class reward availability to oneworld partners, often releasing at least two seats per flight well in advance. Just as importantly, Finnair’s reward bookings incur lower carrier charges than many other airlines. For example, a Helsinki-Bangkok reward seat currently costs only €36 in fees and taxes!

This combination of solid availability and modest surcharges makes Finnair one of the more reliable choices for Qantas Frequent Flyers seeking Business Class seats to Europe without eye-watering cash co-payments, a-la-Emirates.

Passengers will be able to book Finnair’s Melbourne-Bangkok legs on their own. Here’s how many Qantas Points you’ll need for the upcoming flights:

Due to some quirks with how reward seats are priced by distance, it’s far better value to redeem a reward seat all the way from Melbourne to Helsinki, rather than booking leg-by-leg with a stopover (over 24 hours) in the middle.

Finnair has yet to release pricing for its Australia flights using Avios. But as a guide, reward flights from Helsinki to Bangkok currently cost:

• 30,000 Avios + fees and taxes in Economy
• 43,500 Avios + fees and taxes in Premium Economy
• 62,500 Avios + fees and taxes in Business

Qantas American Express Ultimate

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Sign-up Bonus:

Up to 90,000 bonus Qantas Points¹

Rewards Earn Rate:

1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia. 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.

Annual Fee:

$450 p.a.

Offer expires

13 January 2026

Earn 70,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus an additional 20,000 Qantas Points when you spend a minimum of $1 on your Card within 90 days of paying your second year annual Card Fee¹. (Offer ends 13 January 2026. New Amex Card Members only. T&Cs apply.) This card includes an annual $450 Qantas Travel Credit, two Qantas lounge passes, complimentary international travel insurance, and Qantas Wine Premium Membership (valued at $99). Earn 1.25 Qantas Points per $1 on everyday spend, 2.25 on Qantas purchases, and 0.5 on government payments. The annual fee is $450.