New Zealand travel agents can now book clients on Luxury Escapes’ first-ever direct charter flights from Melbourne to Malé, operated by Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives with air-only access available through Agent Hub for the first time.
The move expands Luxury Escapes’ Maldivian offering into the New Zealand trade, giving agents a faster, more seamless way to package one of the Indian Ocean’s most in-demand luxury destinations. Until now, New Zealand journeys to the Maldives have typically required stopovers via hubs such as Singapore, Doha, Malaysia or Dubai, often pushing travel times beyond 16 hours.
The inaugural Maldivian Luxury Escapes Express flight is scheduled to depart on 18 May 2026 (subject to government and regulatory approvals). Flights are designed to align with resort transfer logistics. The services arrives into Malé early Tuesday morning, timed for smooth seaplane or speedboat connections to outer-island resorts, with select resort partners offering Luxury Escapes travellers complimentary early check-in. Return flights depart Malé on Sunday evening, arriving into Melbourne on Monday lunchtime.
For agents, the headline is access and simplicity. Exclusive air-and-resort packages, live inventory with instant confirmation, and a streamlined path from enquiry to booking through Agent Hub. The platform also enables agents to book flights to and from Australia via Agent Hub, supporting onward and return connections as part of a complete itinerary. Luxury Escapes is also sharpening the commercial appeal with bonus commissions for New Zealand agents, 5% on bookings under NZD $7,999, and 10% on bookings of NZD $8,000+. An additional trade incentive has been launched, offering automatic eligibility for two agents to join an exclusive Luxury Escapes Maldives famil by booking a client package.
Luxury Escapes says the initial operation is planned as a six-month seasonal run, with the potential to extend to a second season or even become a permanent service (subject to demand). Lead-in packages start from NZD $3,799 per person for return flights plus five nights in selected five-star resorts, with business-class flight and accommodation upgrades available.
As Luxury Escapes New Zealand Business Development Manager Elaine Patton puts it, “By making the Maldives charter available through Agent Hub, we’re giving New Zealand agents greater flexibility and a simpler way to book standout holidays for their clients, including air-only options, while delivering exceptional value.”