Australian travel advisors can now book air-only through the Luxury Escapes Agent Hub, on top of the Flights + Packages, for the upcoming Luxury Escapes Maldivian Airlines direct flights launching in May.
Luxury Escapes announced a new seasonal non-stop service between Melbourne and Malé operated by Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives in December.
While advisors had been able to book the packages since the offer went on sale, the addition of flights-only will give advisors more flexibility for their clients if they wish to fly on the only direct Australia-Maldives service but may have already booked accommodation prior to our flights going on sale.
It’s also the first time agents are able to access flight bookings in Agent Hub.
The original deal
Set to launch in May, the weekly return charter will mark the first regular scheduled commercial direct flights between Australia and the Maldives, cutting travel time to around 11 hours each way and eliminating the need for stopovers through hubs such as Singapore, Doha or Dubai.
The Maldivian Luxury Escapes Express will operate a Monday evening departure from Melbourne, with the inaugural flight scheduled for 18 May 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. Flights will arrive in Malé early Tuesday morning, timed to connect seamlessly with seaplane and speedboat transfers to resort islands. Return services will depart Malé on Sunday evening, arriving back in Melbourne on Monday lunchtime.
Luxury Escapes co-founder and CEO Adam Schwab said the service was developed in response to strong customer demand, with booking data showing hotel reservations to the Maldives up 17 per cent and an average length of stay of five to six nights.
“Travellers are currently spending almost 24 hours getting to the Maldives, often with an overnight stop,” Schwab said. “This direct service gives guests more time on the ground, with early check-in arrangements meaning they can be poolside sooner rather than later.”
Luxury Escapes has released all-inclusive flight and accommodation packages starting from $2,599 per person, based on return economy flights and five nights in a five-star resort. Packages include daily breakfast, nightly dinner, transfers and selected water sports, with business-class upgrades also available.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus welcomed the new service, noting it would make Melbourne the only Australian gateway offering direct access to the Maldives.
Maldivian managing director Ibrahim Iyas said Australia remains one of the Maldives’ most important long-haul source markets, with Australian travellers known for longer stays that contribute strongly to the tourism economy.
The flights will be operated by Maldivian’s A330-200 aircraft, featuring business and economy cabins, including 18 lie-flat business-class seats. The service is scheduled to operate for an initial six-month seasonal period, with the potential to extend subject to demand.
The Maldives packages are on sale now via Luxury Escapes online, in-store, through its travel agents and via Travel Hub for registered agents.
