From 18 May 2026, Australia will gain its first-ever nonstop commercial service to the Maldives, shaving hours off a journey to one of Asia’s most coveted destinations.
Opening a direct pathway to the Indian Ocean archipelago, the seasonal route will be operated by Luxury Escapes and flown by Maldivian, the Maldives’ national airline. As such, the first regularly scheduled commercial service to the South Asian nation will be exclusively for Luxury Escapes customers and not the general public.
Until now, to access the Maldives, travellers have faced lengthy stopovers through hubs such as Singapore, Colombo or even the Middle East. But this new charter service cuts total travel time to around 11 hours.
Utilising Maldivian’s 263-seater, A330-200 on the route, the two-class service will feature 18 fully lie-flat seats in business and 246 economy seats. Luxury Escapes will also let guests reserve a four-seat economy row, cheekily branded “cuddle class”.
Flights will operate weekly on Mondays, departing Melbourne in the evening and arriving in Malé early Tuesday morning. The timing is designed to align with onward seaplane and speedboat transfers, with some resort partners offering early check-in. The return leg departs Malé on Sunday night, landing back at Melbourne Airport Monday lunchtime.
“According to our booking data, hotel reservations are up 17% with an average length of stay between five to six nights, so we tailored our flight schedule to allow almost seven days on the ground,” Luxury Escapes Co-Founder and chief executive Adam Schwab said.
“Travellers are currently spending almost 24 hours getting to Maldives, with an overnight stay at Singapore or Dubai – the Luxury Escapes Express will give our guests extra days to enjoy their dream Maldivian getaway and our exclusively negotiated early check-in will have guests poolside in time for mid-morning mocktails or cocktails.”
The new service also marks another win for Melbourne Airport, which has seen a spate of new routes announced and launched this month, including an Indonesia AirAsia service to Bali, new nonstop Hong Kong flights, Delta Air Lines touching down in Victoria, and a first-ever Melbourne-Helsinki route unveiled yesterday.
Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus says the historic service delivers a major win for Aussie travellers.
“It’s always exciting to welcome a new airline to Melbourne, but even more so when they fly to such a sought-after destination,” she stated.
“We know non-stop flights are incredibly appealing to travellers because of time savings and convenience they offer, and we expect these Luxury Escapes charters will prove very popular with Australians looking for a relaxing getaway.
“This service will benefit travellers right along the east coast and Tasmania, with our single terminal precinct allowing for quick and easy domestic to international terminal transfers.”
Maldivian Managing Director Ibrahim Iyas said Australia consistently ranked as one of the Maldives’ top ten long-haul markets and is “known for longer stays that contribute to the wider tourism economy”.
“This service represents an important milestone, supporting continued growth across the sector while reinforcing Maldivian’s role as the national airline and often the first point of contact for visitors, delivering the warmth and hospitality the Maldives is widely known for,” he added.
The service will run for an initial six-month seasonal period, subject to regulatory approvals, with the potential to extend based on demand.
Luxury Escapes packages start from AU$2,599 per person, including return flights and five nights’ accommodation at selected five-star resorts. Upgrades to Business Class are available.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Direct access removes a major barrier to selling the Maldives. This service offers simplified logistics, reduced transit fatigue, and a clear appeal for honeymooners and luxury leisure travellers, making it a potential circuit breaker.
