Finnair to launch service to Australia in October 2026

Finland’s flag carrier Finnair plans to launch its first-ever service to Australia, with year-round flights via Melbourne from October 2026. The route will extend the airline’s Helsinki hub network further into the southern hemisphere and give European travellers a new one-stop connection to Australia. This is great news for frequent flyers who know how challenging it can be to find Avios reward seats on flights to Australia. 

The announcement also raises an important question: whether Finnair Avios bookings will make it easier to reach Australia using points.

The New Flight Schedule  

Finnair intends to connect the new service smoothly with its existing morning departure bank from Helsinki. Flights from across the continent will arrive early in the evening so passengers can connect to the overnight departure to Asia. The schedule also supports better use of the airline’s Airbus A350 fleet, which already operates the majority of Finnair’s long-haul routes. 

Departures from Helsinki will leave shortly after midnight, arriving in Bangkok in the afternoon before continuing on to Melbourne after a short stop. Flights will leave Melbourne in the afternoon on the return journey, stop in Bangkok in the evening, and arrive back in Helsinki early the next day, timed to connect with Finnair’s first wave of morning departures across Europe.

According to Finnair, its Asia services are structured to allow short transfer times for passengers arriving from the UK and Ireland. Flights from London Heathrow, Manchester, and Edinburgh all arrive at the same terminal in Helsinki, where connections usually require around 40 minutes.

What the Route Means for Avios Collectors

Finnair’s arrival in the Australian market will also interest loyalty programme members. As a member of the oneworld alliance alongside Qantas, the airline makes its reward inventory available to partner programmes once seats are released. This means travellers can book flights using Avios or other oneworld partner points.

Finnair has historically been relatively consistent in releasing partner reward availability. The carrier often releases at least two Business Class reward seats per flight well in advance. Just as importantly, taxes and carrier surcharges also tend to remain lower than those charged by several other long-haul airlines. For example, a reward seat between Helsinki and Bangkok currently carries taxes and fees of around €36.

That combination of reasonable availability and comparatively low surcharges makes Finnair an attractive option for Qantas Frequent Flyers looking to book Business Class flights to Europe without the substantial co-payments often associated with carriers such as Emirates.

Points Required for Reward Seats

Passengers will also be able to book individual sectors of the route. The table below shows the current number of Qantas Points required for reward seats on the relevant legs (not including fees and taxes):

Because reward flights are priced by distance, travellers will usually find better value booking a single redemption from Melbourne to Helsinki than splitting the journey into multiple segments with a stopover of over 24 hours. If you’re wondering how to spend Avios on travel between Europe and Australia, routing via Helsinki could become a viable option once the route launches.

Using Avios on Finnair

Finnair has not yet confirmed Finnair Avios pricing for its flights to Australia, but the airline already participates in Avios-based loyalty ecosystems used across several European carriers. As a guide, current reward rates between Helsinki and Bangkok can be used as a benchmark:

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

Bangkok is already one of Finnair’s key Asian gateways, alongside Singapore and Hong Kong, and acts as a popular transit point for Australian travellers heading to Europe. The ability to book the Melbourne–Bangkok leg separately could introduce additional competition on that route.

Passengers can connect to roughly 90 destinations across Europe from Helsinki, with especially strong coverage in the Nordic and Baltic regions. As an oneworld member, Finnair also offers reciprocal benefits for Qantas Frequent Flyers, including lounge access, priority boarding, additional baggage allowances and preferred seating. As more travellers look at which airlines use Avios for global travel, Finnair’s expansion into Australia could create new opportunities to book flights using Avios between Europe and the southern hemisphere.

Why Melbourne Is an Important Opportunity 

Melbourne is one of Australia’s largest cities and a major centre for business, education, and culture. It also hosts sizeable European, student, and expatriate communities, which Finnair believes will support demand for the route beyond leisure travel alone.

Anssi Partanen, Market Director Europe at Finnair, said, “Melbourne is an important destination for many people in the UK and Ireland travelling to visit friends and family across the globe, and we are thrilled to announce this unique bridge between the northern and southern hemispheres. We are also excited to be one of the only airlines offering services to the city from Europe.”

He added that passengers will be able to travel to Australia and connect onward within Finnair’s wider route network. “With smoother connections via Helsinki from London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Dublin, our customers will benefit from a smooth, comfortable journey to Australia, with the flexibility to travel to other destinations in Finnair’s network along the way.” 

The launch comes as Finnair continues to rebuild and reshape its long-haul network following several years of disruption. The airline expects its schedule to include 93 destinations across Europe, 11 in Asia, seven in North America, and two in the Middle East by 2026. Toronto is also due to join the network in summer 2026.

Most Avios collectors know that reward seats to Australia can be frustratingly scarce, especially during school holidays when many families hope to travel. A new option via Helsinki won’t solve the problem overnight, but it does add another path to watch. If Finnair releases partner award space in the same way it has on other long-haul routes, this Melbourne service could become one more useful tool for piecing together a trip to Australia.

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