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Maldivian starts seasonal Melbourne route in partnership with travel company
May 19th 2026
Maldivian has commenced seasonal nonstop flights to Melbourne Tullamarine from its Male hub. Read More » The inaugural flight Q2956, operated by A330-200 registration 8Q-IAB, touched down at Tullamarine a little after 1400 local time yesterday (18 May), 10 and a half hours after departing Male. The aircraft was on the ground for about nine hours before operating departing Tullamarine just after 2330 as the reciprocal Q2957 bound for Male. It is the first airline to fly nonstop between Australia and the Maldives, Melbourne Airport said. The airline is selling seats on the once-weekly service as part of a package in partnership with travel company Luxury Escapes, with seats not available for general sale. "Today, we did not just launch a route," Maldivian Captain Mohamed Sunoosy said. "We wrote the first line of a new chapter in aviation history between the Maldives and Australia, and with it, opened a new gateway for the world to discover the Maldives."
