Overview
- Maldivian, which began the route Monday, operated the inaugural 11‑hour overnight service on an Airbus A330‑200 with 264 passengers.
- The weekly seasonal service is sold through a Luxury Escapes partnership, with bundles on offer and return economy fares listed from A$1,379.
- Luxury Escapes is running a limited deal of 100 return economy flights for A$100 with eligible Maldives packages, available from 7pm AEST on May 18 until May 25 or sold out.
- Flights depart Melbourne at 11:20pm and arrive in Malé at 5:55am to allow same‑morning seaplane or speedboat transfers to resorts.
- Melbourne Airport calls it the first direct Australia–Maldives connection and notes South Asia capacity from Melbourne is up 53% compared with pre‑pandemic levels.