Marking Australia’s first-ever direct flights to the Maldives, the new non-stop service will fly from Melbourne to Male on a seasonal basis, operated by Luxury Escapes and provided by the Maldives’ national carrier.
Dubbed the ‘Maldivian Luxury Escapes Express’, the service – available exclusively to Luxury Escapes customers – will operate a weekly evening departure on Mon, with the inaugural flight set to take off 18 May 2026.
Maldivian will deploy a widebody A330-200 aircraft on the route, which features 18 fully lie-flat seats in the business cabin. Guests will even be able to book out a complete row of four economy seats for what Luxury Escapes is dubbing ‘cuddle class’.
The flights will initially operate for around six months following approvals from Australian regulators, with the potential to be extended for a second season or made permanent, depending on demand.
Luxury Escapes co-founder and CEO Adam Schwab said the charter with Maldivian comes off the back of thousands of customer requests for direct flights.
“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,” he explained.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus declared the new service a huge win for both Aussie travellers and Melbourne Airport.
“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 added: “Australian travellers are among our strongest source markets, consistently ranking within the Maldives’ top 10 long-haul markets and known for longer stays that contribute to the wider tourism economy.”
Launch package offers start from $2,599 per person for the return flight and five nights in a selection of luxury resorts with inclusions, and are now available to book via Luxury Escapes’ website, in-person at the Melbourne Chadstone and new Sydney Bondi stores, and via Luxury Escapes travel agents on 1300 889 900 and registered advisors via Travel Hub.
