Finnair’s New Melbourne Route Boosts Avios Travel to Australia
Finnair is set to launch a new daily route to Melbourne, Australia, starting October 26, 2026, offering a unique intermediate stop via Bangkok. This development is significant as finding Avios redemptions to Australia has historically been challenging. The new service, operated by Finnair’s refurbished A350 aircraft featuring the comfortable no-recline AirLounge business class seat, aims to create a crucial link for travelers from the UK and Ireland. Finnair will become only the second European, and first Western European, airline to serve Melbourne directly, following Turkish Airlines.
The flight schedule includes AY145 departing Helsinki at 12:10 AM, arriving in Bangkok at 4:30 PM, and continuing to Melbourne at 6:15 PM, arriving the next day at 7:15 AM. The return, AY146, departs Melbourne at 3:40 PM, stops in Bangkok, and arrives in Helsinki the following morning. Finnair offers strong connectivity from the UK and Ireland, with multiple daily flights from London Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Dublin to Helsinki, ensuring seamless connections to this long-haul route.
Initially, Finnair briefly offered what appeared to be “mistake pricing” for Avios redemptions to Melbourne, valuing it similarly to Bangkok despite the additional nine-hour flight segment. These deals were quickly suspended as the airline re-evaluates the pricing structure. Travelers should anticipate a substantial increase in Avios cost once redemptions resume. While Avios redemptions are temporarily unavailable, flights are now bookable via the Finnair website. A key benefit for Avios users is the ability to book up to 360 days in advance directly through Finnair.com, potentially securing the two guaranteed business class seats before British Airways' 355-day booking window opens. However, it's advisable to compare taxes and charges between Finnair and BA websites.
