Australians can now fly non-stop to the Maldives for the first time, with the launch tonight (18 May) of a new weekly service from Melbourne to Malé, operated by Maldivian Airlines in partnership with Australian travel giant, Luxury Escapes.

The Maldivian Airlines Airbus A330-200 features a two-class cabin with Business and Economy, with Luxury Escapes also offering Economy Plus extra legroom seating.

Luxury Escapes CEO and Co-Founder, Adam Schwab, said the launch is a defining moment for Australian travel, eliminating the long-standing gap in direct access to one of the world’s most sought-after destinations.

“The Maldives has long been a bucket-list destination for Australian travellers, but the time and complexity of travelling via a transit in Singapore or the Middle East had been a major deterrent,” he said.

“With great support from Melbourne Airport and in partnership with the national carrier of the Maldives, we’ve been able to unlock a direct route and package it with exceptional value across a range of resorts, from ultra-luxury romantic escapes to family-friendly options.

“All of this combined will position the Maldives as the new Mediterranean for Aussie travellers,” Schwab said.

The inaugural flight departed Melbourne Airport (MEL) at 11.20pm this evening, carrying 264 passengers on the 11-hour journey to Velana International Airport (MLE) in Malé, the Maldives.

Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer Lorie Argus said the flights would be an attractive option for travellers.

“By eliminating the need to transit through a hub in Asia or the Middle East this service will cut 9-10 hours of travel time out of the journey to the Maldives which is really exciting for Victorian travellers,” she said.

“For the first time ever in Australia you’ll be able to jump on a flight in the evening and wake up in the Maldives the next morning. Travel to South Asia is booming with capacity out of Melbourne up 53 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, so I’m sure this service will be in demand.”

Flights and luxury resort accommodation packages start at AU$2,399 per person for five nights and are on sale at luxuryescapes.com. Standalone flights can also be booked, return Economy fares start from AU$1,379.

To herald the new era of direct connectivity, Luxury Escapes is offering 100 return Economy flights for AU$100, inclusive of taxes, less than a return Uber or taxi from the city to the airport, when booking a holiday package.