Finnair to launch Melbourne-Helsinki flights

[Brettmcg]

Finnair (AY) to launch daily MEL-HEL via BKK from OCT26

News | Finnair

company.finnair.com

 

[MELso]

Good news! Hopefully their J fares will remain competitive.

 

[AIRwin]

Missed opportunity for MEL-DEL-HEL?

 

[Brettmcg]

Here's hoping they're able to sell MEL-BKK v.v. under fifth freedom. MEL travellers have long needed a decent OW option to/from BKK.

 

[pauly7]

Here's hoping they're able to sell MEL-BKK v.v. under fifth freedom. MEL travellers have long needed a decent OW option to/from BKK.

agree, we’ve been holding out for QF to open this route up.

 

[elanshin]

More CRs.

I guess the QF wetlease also helped Finnair establish some data and ops in Australia.

 

[Harrison_133]

Certainly didn't see this one coming. Finnair will commence flights to Melbourne via Bangkok in October 2026.

Flights will operate on the A350 and go on sale today.

Source: News | Finnair

 

[Austman]

I think Finnair will become just the second European carrier, after BA, that operates its own aircraft to Australia?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Here's hoping they're able to sell MEL-BKK v.v. under fifth freedom. MEL travellers have long needed a decent OW option to/from BKK.

Errr… possibly?

AY’s economy class is pretty basic, not even a pillow.

PEY has economy food, served in a cardboard box. According to AY, beer and wine are available throughout the flight in PEY, but other alcoholic drinks including sparkling wine have to purchased. I think JQ business is going to be the winner there in just about all fronts? And they’ll have an increased cabin of 42 seats.

Business class will be a welcome addition, and the flight times are reasonably ok.

 

[dajop]

I think Finnair will become just the second European carrier, after BA, that operates its own aircraft to Australia?

Third. Turkish is based at IST which is on the European side of the Bosphorus.

 

[elanshin]

Errr… possibly?

AY’s economy class is pretty basic, not even a pillow.

PEY has economy food, served in a cardboard box. According to AY, beer and wine are available throughout the flight in PEY, but other alcoholic drinks including sparkling wine have to purchased. I think JQ business is going to be the winner there in just about all fronts? And they’ll have an increased cabin of 42 seats.

Business class will be a welcome addition, and the flight times are reasonably ok.

AY J (assuming you're in the like it camp) is solid. My interactions with the BKK based crew on QF has been .... Ok? Not the best but passable.

Economy though... Would make you want to wish QF was operating the plane as a wetlease.

What this does do is open up a whole bunch of CR tickets to Europe. So I'm expecting an effective dump once AY load them in for MEL > Europe.

 

[Brettmcg]

Errr… possibly?

AY’s economy class is pretty basic, not even a pillow.

PEY has economy food, served in a cardboard box. According to AY, beer and wine are available throughout the flight in PEY, but other alcoholic drinks including sparkling wine have to purchased. I think JQ business is going to be the winner there in just about all fronts? And they’ll have an increased cabin of 42 seats.

Business class will be a welcome addition, and the flight times are reasonably ok.

If JQ is your thing, knock yourself out...

 

[elanshin]

If JQ is your thing, knock yourself out...

JQ J would be better than PE and Y on AY I believe.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Missed opportunity for MEL-DEL-HEL?

The Indian market is dominated by (low value) Indian students (or those claiming to be students). Air India fly DEL-MEL

Melbourne airport PR spin --->Finnair makes Melbourne its Australian gateway to Europe.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If JQ is your thing, knock yourself out...

Economy AY probably wins out, you get fed. Slight edge to non-QF OW status holders who’ll now get lounge access.

But AY is going to have to price itself only just above JQ to make it an attractive proposition.

JQ ‘business’ wins with the seat itself, meals, alcoholic beverages etc.

What this does do is open up a whole bunch of CR tickets to Europe. So I'm expecting an effective dump once AY load them in for MEL > Europe.

What will be interesting to see is if this is a continuation of one of their BKK services, or an entirely new one (bringing it to 3x daily from HEL-BKK).

AY is pretty generous with awards now ex SIN etc, so will be interesting to see how many of those flow through to MEL.

 

[elanshin]

What will be interesting to see is if this is a continuation of one of their BKK services, or an entirely new one (bringing it to 3x daily from HEL-BKK).

I don't see them having new planes so most likely rejigging their routes and just tagging onto their existing.

AY is pretty generous with awards now ex SIN etc, so will be interesting to see how many of those flow through to MEL.

I expect them initially to be reasonably generous.

 

[AIRwin]

Air India fly DEL-MEL

And QF

 

[Notyourbag]

Wow did not see this one coming! Had to check it wasn't 1st April.

Do we think this will open up any other opportunities for EU carriers to come/return to Australia?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't see them having new planes so most likely rejigging their routes and just tagging onto their existing.

They must have worked it out, but that in itself will be interesting… how much will that cannibalise their existing through traffic via SIN and HKG to connect to aussie cities? At the moment they connect from HEL to both JQ and QF in SIN… maybe the numbers aren’t that high.

 

[elanshin]

They must have worked it out, but that in itself will be interesting… how much will that cannibalise their existing through traffic via SIN and HKG to connect to aussie cities? At the moment they connect from HEL to both JQ and QF in SIN… maybe the numbers aren’t that high.

I suspect its actually good enough for them to launch into the Aus market but SIN is crowded market for Australia especially for OW. I also believe their South East Asian crew is based from BKK so it makes it a bit easier that way too.

Add on potential 5th freedom which Qantas isn't flying for MEL - BKK. This might be a solid way to enter the market. Probably also why they're not going to SYD.