If you've long treated the Maldives as the ultimate 'one day' destination – a place reserved more for blissed-out honeymooners, A-listers or travellers with plenty of money and endless patience for layovers and airport lounges – we've got some exciting news.
In a major aviation first, journeying to the Maldives is about to get a whole lot smoother, with popular travel brand Luxury Escapes helping to launch Australia’s first-ever direct flight from Melbourne to Malé – officially putting one of the world’s most dreamy destinations within easy reach (and cutting out the stopover slog entirely).
According to Luxury Escapes, this is the first and only direct service between Australia and the Maldives, operated via an exclusive partnership with Maldivian Airlines. Translation? Less transit, more tanning and a total travel time of under 12 hours.
Until now, getting to the Maldives from anywhere in Australia meant bracing yourself for at least one international stopover – usually Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo or Dubai – stretching the journey to between 15 to 20-plus hours. The new direct Melbourne-Malé route changes that completely, offering a straight shot overnight from Tullamarine to Velana International Airport.
It’s a genuine game-changer for Australian travellers, especially as interest in the Maldives appears to be on the up. Luxury Escapes booking data shows the Maldives was the third most popular overseas destination in 2024, with bookings up 16 per cent year-on-year, signalling a clear appetite for luxe, island-mode escapes.
As you’d expect from a brand with ‘luxury’ in the title, the flights won’t be your standard cattle class experience. The overnight flight will operate on a full-service Airbus A330-200, with seats reserved exclusively for Luxury Escapes guests. Crucially, the timing has been carefully designed to maximise holiday hours: an early arrival means early check-in at your resort, while the return journey allows for late check-out, so you can squeeze in one last swim before heading home.
Seats on the direct flights will be limited, and according to Luxury Escapes, demand is already high. Keen? You can browse Maldives packages that include the direct Melbourne-Malé flights via Luxury Escapes, or speak with one of their Maldives travel experts on 1300 676 418. Happy holidays!
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