A new non-stop Melbourne to Malé seasonal service operated by Luxury Escapes provided by Maldivian, is slated to take off from May 2026.

The new direct 11-hour service will be made exclusively available for Luxury Escapes customers and can only be booked in conjunction with a Luxury Escapes package.

The move marks the first time Australian travellers will have a regular scheduled commercial service to fly direct, with current services taking Australians over 20 hours to reach the holiday destination after requiring a stop-over in Singapore, Doha, Columbo or Dubai.

The Maldivian Luxury Escapes Express will operate an A330-200 on a weekly Monday evening departure from Melbourne, with the inaugural flight scheduled to take off 18 May 2026, subject to government approval.

Luxury Escapes Co-Founder and CEO Adam Schwab, said the charter with the Maldives national carrier 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 said.

“We’re doing it the Luxury Escapes way, world-class holidays at unbeatable value, with all the inclusions. Our launch offer is truly epic, starting from $2,599 per person (in Economy) all-inclusive for five nights, in a five-star resort with loads of inclusions from daily breakfast and nightly dinner to speedboat transfers and water sports fun.”

Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer, Lorie Argus, said the new direct flight will be a win for customers to a “sought-after destination”.

“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,” she said.

Maldivian Managing Director Ibrahim Iyas said Australia remains one of the Maldives’ most important long-haul tourism markets.

“Australian travellers are among our strongest source markets, consistently ranking within the Maldives’ top ten long-haul markets and known for longer stays that contribute to the wider tourism economy,” he said.

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.”

Flights will initially operate for six months following approvals from Australian regulators and subject to demand across the initial six-month seasonal period, Luxury Escapes will look to extend for a second seasonal or even a permanent service.