Maldivian has inaugurated the first-ever nonstop commercial passenger service between Australia and the Maldives, linking Malé and Melbourne with a seasonal weekly route. The debut flight, Q2 956, departed Velana International Airport in Malé on the night of 17 May 2026 and arrived at Melbourne Airport after a flight time of just under 11 hours. The return service, Q2 957, left Melbourne at 11:20 pm local time bound for the Maldives.
The route is operated by Maldivian’s Airbus A330-200 and covers a distance of approximately 8,700 kilometers. According to the airline and partner information, the service currently runs as a weekly seasonal operation and is offered in partnership with Australian travel company Luxury Escapes. Seats are being sold as part of Maldives holiday packages rather than as standalone tickets.
Luxury Escapes describes the operation as Australia’s first and only direct service between Melbourne and Malé, reducing total travel time to under 12 hours and eliminating the need for intermediate stops that previously extended the journey to 15–20 hours via hubs such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo or Dubai. With this launch, Melbourne becomes the only Australian airport with nonstop service to the Maldives.