"Finnair’s new route is a fantastic addition to Finland’s and Helsinki Airport’s network. For European travelers, Australia will soon be easier to reach, while the connection also offers a smooth travel option from Australia to Europe," says Petri Vuori, Senior Vice President of Route Development at Finavia.
"It’s exciting to open a route to a new continent for us. The Melbourne route connects two cities on opposite sides of the world and creates a new link between the northern and southern hemispheres," says Christine Rovelli, Senior Vice President, Network and Revenue Management at Finnair.
The new route will open on October 25, 2026. Flights from Helsinki Airport to Melbourne will operate via Bangkok. The flight departs Helsinki shortly after midnight, arrives in Bangkok in the afternoon, and continues after a short stop to Melbourne, landing there the following morning. Return flights leave Melbourne in the afternoon, stop in Bangkok in the evening, and arrive in Helsinki early the next morning, offering smooth connections to European flights. The route will be operated with an Airbus A350 aircraft.
Located on Australia’s southeastern coast, Melbourne is known as the country’s cultural capital, famous for its food, culture, and sports. In addition to being a popular holiday destination, the city has a large European community, many international students, and expatriate workers.
With Melbourne, the number of Finnair’s new destinations in 2026 rises to fourteen. In 2026, Finnair will fly to a total of 93 destinations in Europe, 11 in Asia, seven in North America, including Toronto, which opens in summer 2026, two in the Middle East, and now also to Australia.
For more information and tickets, visit the airline’s website.
Image: Harsil Patel, Unsplash
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Finnair to reopen direct route from Helsinki Airport to Toronto in summer 2026 | Finavia
