AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS: Direct flights to Maldives from Melbourne, and Western Sydney Airport to get Gulf carriers

The Australian government has signed four new or updated aviation agreements, opening the door to more flights and more codeshares. Although, as ever with aviation bilaterals, permission to fly is not the same thing as an airline actually putting metal in the sky.

The Albanese Government says it has negotiated new and updated air services arrangements with countries: the Maldives, El Salvador, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The headline for travellers is the new Maldives agreement, which allows airlines from both countries to operate passenger and cargo services to all Australian international airports. That has already been put to use, with Maldivian launching the first non-stop service between Malé and Melbourne. Melbourne Airport says the inaugural Maldivian service touched down on 18 May 2026, making it the first direct air link between Australia and the Maldives.

Maldives finally gets a non-stop Australian link

For Australian travellers, the Maldives deal is the most immediately useful part of the announcement. Until now, getting to those turquoise-water, overwater-villa honeymoon brochures usually meant transiting via Singapore, Doha, Dubai, Colombo or Kuala Lumpur. Fine if you enjoy lounges and airport security.

The new Melbourne–Malé flights are being operated by Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, with the service pitched as a seasonal weekly operation. Melbourne Airport says Maldivian becomes its 43rd international carrier and the first airline to offer a non-stop Australia–Maldives connection.

For passengers, this should substantially cut journey times, particularly for Victorians.

El Salvador gets codeshare access

The El Salvador agreement is less likely to prompt Australians to rush to book direct flights to San Salvador tomorrow morning. The new arrangements allow airlines to offer codeshare services, expanding their global networks and partnerships.

That matters in the plumbing of aviation rather than the glamour end. Codeshares can make itineraries easier to book on a single ticket, improve baggage through-checking, and give airlines a way to sell destinations they do not serve with their own aircraft.

Qatar and UAE get extra Western Sydney rights

Airlines from Australia, Qatar and the UAE will gain access to an additional seven passenger services per week through the new Western Sydney International Airport, once it opens to international passengers.

That means that Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad could add capacity via Western Sydney Airport rather than through the existing Sydney Airport at Mascot. Western Sydney International needs airline commitments, and Gulf carriers are among the few with the long-haul networks and transfer hubs to make new international capacity work.

None of the Gulf carriers has yet confirmed it will use those new rights, so for now this is access, not a schedule. Still, after the earlier controversy over Qatar Airways being denied additional access to Australia’s major gateways, this looks like a compromise with extra capacity, but directed through the new airport rather than simply added at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth.

For travellers

For passengers, it depends on whether airlines take up the rights. The Maldives agreement has already delivered a real flight. The Qatar and UAE changes could mean more one-stop options to Europe, the Middle East and Africa from Western Sydney.

More flights usually mean better availability and sometimes sharper fares.

2PAXfly Takeout

The Maldives deal, which provides direct flights from Melbourne to Malé, is a genuine improvement for Australian holidaymakers.

The Gulf carrier rights are the one to watch. Seven extra weekly services through Western Sydney International could become a meaningful boost for travellers in Sydney’s west, and make that airport fly. Alternately they could sit there as unused bilateral furniture, especially while Australia has ‘do not travel’ warnings for the Middle East.

Until Qatar, Emirates or Etihad actually load flights into the booking systems, hold the champagne.