NEW ROUTES 2026 #9: Finnair launches Melbourne to Helsinki via Bangkok

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Series: New Routes from Australia 2026

Savvy travellers have been picking up fares that are mainly flown on Finnair between Australia and Helsinki for some years. They have been marketed at competitive prices, especially in Business Class. This has been very attractive, if you don’t mind a stop in Asia, and possibly another in Helsinki, if that’s not your final destination. The Business Class Skylounge, non-reclining seat, seems to divide people. Personally, I loved the seat, as experienced on a Qantas flight to Bangkok on a wet-leased Finnair aircraft.

The new route between Melbourne and Helsinki via Bangkok is set to start on 26 October 2026 and run daily.

a seat in an airplane — The Collins Air Lounge seat on the Finnish Airlines A330 wet-leased by Qantas [Schuetz/2PAXfly]

Background

I’m doing a series of posts on new routes to and from Australia. Some are actually new routes, and some are new in the sense of having new aircraft, updated interiors, changed frequencies or other innovations. Looks like there will be nine posts in the series.

I’ve already covered, and you can read about Turkish Airlines’ soon-to-be nonstop flights between Australia and Europe and Cathay Pacific’s revived route between Adelaide and Hong Kong. You can also read about Korean Air’s new Business Class Suites 2.0 coming to Sydney and Delta One suites from the East Coast to LAX. Even the revival of Malaysian Airlines as a competitive way to head to Europe is covered in this series. You will also find a route to the US on Fiji Airways and Air New Zealand, providing a feeder route between Brisbane and Auckland that could also take you to the North American destinations.

a screen on the back of a plane — The Finnair Bussiness class cabin with AirLounge on an A330 wet-leased by Qantas {Schuetz/2PAXfly]

The northern logic

Helsinki sits closer to Scandinavia and northern Europe than most transit hubs Australians use. That means shorter onward sectors and minimal backtracking.

The Bangkok stop is operational, but Finnair holds rights to sell that sector, which could open competitive pricing to Thailand.

a seat belt and pillow on a seat — In-seat storage on the Collins Air Lounge seat on the Finnish Airlines A330 wet-leased by Qantas [Schuetz/2PAXfly]

Finnair A350 Business Class ‘AirLounge’

Finnair’s flagship Business Class seat on the A350 is named AirLounge, for reasons unknown, but possibly for the fact that it has no recline. That sounds bonkers, but with cushions and a very clever design operates well once you work it out. Well, it does at least in my opinion. For other travellers, it seems to be the work of the devil.

Finnair was actually the launch customer for this unusual design. It’s quite different from what most airlines offer. Instead of a traditional reclining seat, the AirLounge is a fixed-shell ‘sofa-style’ seat that converts into a flat bed.

The idea, as Finnair sees it, is more ‘lounge’ than seat. To recline, the mechanics don’t do the work; you do. You shift position, similar to what you would do on a couch. There is a panel that flips up to fill the gap between the seat and the leg well, and et voila, you have a flat bed.

It’s one of the most distinctive business class products in the sky right now, one I happen to love.

a white pillows on a seat — The cushions on the Collins Air Lounge seat on the Finnish Airlines A330 wet-leased by Qantas [Schuetz/2PAXfly]

Cabin configuration on the A350

Finnair’s A350s used on long-haul routes (including Melbourne) are expected to feature three cabins:

Business Class: 30–43 AirLounge seats
Premium Economy: 24–26 seats in a 2–4–2 layout
Economy: 211–265 seats in a 3–3–3 layout

Premium Economy is a relatively new addition for Finnair.

Business Class layout

The AirLounge seats are arranged in a 1–2–1 configuration, meaning every passenger gets direct aisle access — now standard for long-haul business class.

Depending on the aircraft version, you’ll see 30 seats (smaller cabin) or 43 seats in a larger, two-cabin layout. Some prefer the small, quieter mini-cabin. The seats are wide, cocooned, and designed for privacy, with high shell walls and no overhead bins in the centre section, giving a more open feel. Don’t despair, as there is storage under the footwell.

a black seat with a black cover and a black pillow — Additional storage and that seat pad that can be used as a bolster on the Collins Air Lounge seat on the Finnish Airlines A330 wet-leased by Qantas [Schuetz/2PAXfly]

Melbourne flight schedule

Finnair’s Melbourne route is one of the more interesting new long-haul launches. The plan is for a daily service between Helsinki and Melbourne via Bangkok, operated by the A350. The journey time between Melbourne and Helsinki is 23 hours with the following proposed schedule

AY146 departs Melbourne 15:35, arrives Helsinki 06:05 + 1 day
AY145 departs Helsinki 00:10, arrives Melbourne 07:15

These direct flights stop in Bangkok for a refuelling or ‘technical’ stop of about 1 hour and 45 minutes. A current advantage is that you avoid the Middle East entirely.

a close-up of a table in a chair — Finnair A350 Business Cabin [Finnair]

2PAXfly Takeout

This is Finnair’s first Australian route, and it plugs directly into its Helsinki hub, one of the most efficient gateways into Northern Europe. Some smart travellers have previously used Finnair to Helsinki, but the flights between Australia and Bangkok were often on Qantas.

I have experienced the AirLounge product on a Qantas wet-leased Finnair A330, so I haven’t had the full A350 experience with all the Marimiko accessories. My experience wass probably hybrid, with a Finnish Asian based crew, but Qantas food etc.

At the right price, and especially if I was heading to northern Europe, this would be a very sound option for me.

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