• Luxury Escapes private charter weekly return flight set for take-off from May 2026
• First ever regular scheduled direct flights between Australia and The Maldives
• Luxury Escapes releases all-inclusive flight and accommodation packages from $2,599^ per person. 

Friday 19 December 2025: Australians will finally be able to fly direct from Australia to the Maldives, with a brand-new non-stop Melbourne to Malé seasonal service operated by Luxury Escapes provided by Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives.

It will be the first time Australian travellers will have a regular scheduled commercial service to fly direct, meaning more holiday time and less transit time, exclusively for Luxury Escapes customers.

Current flights from Australia to the Maldives require a stop-over in destinations such as Singapore, Doha, Columbo or Dubai with travel time of often more than 20 hours. The Luxury Escapes flight is direct to Malé in around eleven hours (and just over ten hours for the return leg).

The Maldivian Luxury Escapes Express will operate a weekly Monday carefully timed evening departure from Melbourne with the inaugural flight scheduled to take off 18 May 2026*.

The flights will arrive in Malé early Tuesday morning, perfectly timed for seamless seaplane or speedboat transfers to outer-island resorts with many resort partners giving Luxury Escapes travellers free early check-in. Return flights will leave Malé Sunday evening, touching down in Melbourne Monday lunchtime.

Luxury Escapes Co-Founder and CEO Adam Schwab, says 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.

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.”

He added, "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 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, says the new direct flight is a huge win for both Aussie travellers and Melbourne Airport which will be the only airport in Australia to have the convenience of a direct link to one of the world's most popular holiday destinations.

"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 said.

"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 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 added, “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.”

Maldivian's widebody A330-200 has 263 seats across Business and Economy cabins, including 18 fully lie-flat seats in the Business cabin, and 246 Economy seats in a 2-4-2 configuration. Guests will even be able to book out a complete row of four Economy seats for what Luxury Escapes is dubbing, 'cuddle class'.

Flights will initially operate for around six months following approvals from Australian regulators, with the Air Traffic Control callsign 'Skysurfer'.

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.

Launch package offers start from AUD$2,599^ per person for the return flight and five nights in a selection of five-star resorts with inclusions. Business-class flight and accommodation package upgrades are available.

The Maldives packages are on sale from today at www.luxuryescapes.com, instore at the Melbourne Chadstone store and new Sydney Bondi store, via Luxury Escapes travel agents on 1300 889 900 and registered travel agents via Travel Hub.

*Subject to government and regulatory approval, standard terms and conditions apply, flights can only be booked in conjunction with Luxury Escapes package.
^Pricing based on 1 x Economy seat on the charter flight plus the lead-in 5-night Maldives package per person.

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For more information:
Amanda Bolger
General Manager
Global PR & Communications
Luxury Escapes
amanda.bolger@luxuryescapes.com | 0402 137 071 |media@luxuryescapes.com