What Happened
Historic Route Opens New Gateway To Indian Ocean Archipelago
Maldivian has launched the first-ever non-stop flights between Australia and the Maldives, with the airline’s inaugural service touching down at Melbourne Airport on May 18, 2026. The weekly seasonal service eliminates the need for transits through Asia or the Middle East, saving passengers up to 10 hours of travel time. The flights are available exclusively through Luxury Escapes packages, which may attract high-end tourists to the Maldives. The launch was reported by AeroTime.