Zurich to Malé (ZRH–MLE) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

ZRH Airport Page →
4,849 mi airlines 17/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 5 flights Verified 6m ago
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  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
✈ Nonstop
✓
→
LH4526cs
LH Lufthansa
343
6:10 PM
CEST
7:50 AM+1
+05
10h 40m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices
✓
→
LX8066cs
LX Swiss
343
7:10 PM
CEST
8:50 AM+1
+05
10h 40m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices
✓
→
WK66+2
WK Edelweiss
359
8:50 PM
CEST
9:10 AM+1
+05
9h 20m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices
✓
←
WK67+2
WK Edelweiss
359
10:00 AM
+05 T1
5:00 PM
CEST
10h
—
M T W T F S S
Prices
✓
←
LX8067cs
LX Swiss
343
10:30 AM
+05 T1
5:15 PM
CEST
9h 45m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices

No flights match your filters.

No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

✦ 1-STOP More options, longer trips
✧ 2-STOP Loading... Reach the hardest destinations
Zurich to Malé
1 carrier, 17 flights/week nonstop.
1 Airlines 17 Flights/wk 4,849 mi 9h 20m nonstop +3h ahead 18 1-stop hubs

ZRH–MLE is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Edelweiss leads the route. The flight covers 4,849 miles in approximately 9h 20m. Beyond nonstop, 18 hubs offer 1-stop connections.

Also explore ZRH Routes MLE Routes ZRH Live Flights MLE Live Flights
Carriers on this route

Airline Landscape

All carriers operating nonstop ZRH–MLE service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
WK Edelweiss Also: LH, LX 5 359 9h20 – – LH, LX
Aircraft on this route
343 Airbus A340-300 – LH, LX
359 Airbus A350-900 – WK
Alliance coverage
Unaffiliated: WK (5 flights/wk, 100%)
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.
Schedule

Weekly Schedule Pattern

Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, ZRH to MLE direction.
Mon
3
flights
Tue
0
flights
Wed
2
flights
Thu
3
flights
Fri
3
flights
Sat
3
flights
Sun
3
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
3
Nonstop flights
17
Outbound / wk
12
Return / wk
Connections

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for ZRH to MLE.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
18
Hubs
~12h
Fastest
~29h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
1,005
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.
Alternatives

Other ways to reach Malé from Zurich

Nearby airports with service to Velana International Airport.
Metric ZRH→MLE MXP→MLE
Distance from ZRH – 127 mi
Nonstop airlines 1 1
Weekly flights 17 1
Flight time 9h 20m 10h 45m
Ferno (VA) (MXP) to Malé flights
Airports within 200 miles of ZRH with service to Velana International Airport.
Know before you go

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
+3h
Malé is 3 hours ahead of Zurich.
ZRH: CEST · MLE: +05

When it's 6:00 PM in Zurich, it's 9:00 PM in Malé.
Distance & Flight Time
4,849 mi / 7,804 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 9h 20m to 10h 40m.
Visa & Entry

Swiss passport holders receive a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival in the Maldives. No advance application needed. You must show a passport valid for at least 1 month beyond departure, a confirmed hotel booking or resort reservation, and a return or onward ticket. Immigration may also ask for proof of funds (USD 100 per day as a guideline).

Extensions up to 90 days are available through Maldives Immigration in Male. All tourists must complete the online Traveller Declaration at imuga.immigration.gov.mv within 96 hours before arrival and departure.

Verify entry requirements with official sources before travel.
Getting to ZRH

Direct SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) trains run from Zurich HB (main station) to the airport station in 10 minutes, departing every 10–15 minutes for CHF 6.80 with a standard zone 1–2 ticket. From other Swiss cities, intercity trains call at Zurich Airport station directly; Basel (65 min), Bern (90 min), Geneva (2h45) all have direct connections. The airport station is integrated beneath the terminal.Taxis from Zurich city centre cost CHF 55–75 and take 15–25 minutes via the A1 motorway. Driving is practical; the terminal has a large multi-storey car park (P1/P2/P3) with short- and long-term rates. Rental cars are on-site.

Facts

ZRH–MLE Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Zurich to Malé route.
Route details
Distance4,849 mi / 7,804 km
Flight time9h 20m to 10h 40m
Time difference+3 hours
Airlines (nonstop)1
Weekly flights17 out / 12 return
1-stop connections18 hubs
Origin: ZRH
Full nameZürich Airport
IATA / ICAOZRH / LSZH
TimezoneEurope/Zurich
Passengers/yr31.2M
Elevation1,417 ft / 432 m
Destination: MLE
Full nameVelana International Airport
IATA / ICAOMLE / VRMM
TimezoneIndian/Maldives
Passengers/yr4.0M
Elevation6 ft / 2 m
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ZRH to MLE flights.
Nonstop flights from Zürich Airport to Velana International Airport take approximately 9h 20m to 10h 40m. The route covers 4,849 miles.
1 airline operates nonstop service: Edelweiss. Plus 2 codeshare partners.
There are approximately 17 nonstop flights per week from ZRH to MLE. The return direction has about 12 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through FCO, BHK, MXP, DWC, DXB, BOM, DEL, AUH, VIE, DOH, HKG, FRA, CMB, IST, SIN, LHR, PVG and BKK. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Malé is 3 hours ahead of Zurich.
Yes, return flights from MLE to ZRH are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Nearby alternatives include MXP. See the Alternatives section for a full comparison.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.
Flight time is about 9 hours 30 minutes to 10 hours eastbound on the 8,000 km route. Return flights take about 10 hours 30 minutes to 11 hours due to headwinds. The flight crosses Turkey and the Arabian Sea before reaching the Maldives. SWISS operates the route with wide-body aircraft.
SWISS operates nonstop Zurich-Male service, typically 1 to 3 times per week with higher frequency in winter peak season. Equipment is the Airbus A330-300 or A340. Edelweiss Air also serves the route seasonally. One-stop alternatives through Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi on Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad are widely available and sometimes cheaper.
Velana International Airport (MLE) sits on Hulhule island, a separate island from Male city. The terminal was expanded in recent years. Speedboat transfers to resort islands depart from the airport jetty. Seaplane terminals for Trans Maldivian Airways are next to the main terminal. Domestic flights to regional airports are in a separate terminal. If your resort is far from Male, you may need a domestic flight or seaplane rather than a speedboat.
It depends on which atoll your resort is in. Resorts in North Male and South Male atolls use speedboat transfers of 20 to 90 minutes from the airport. Resorts in more distant atolls (Baa, Ari, Noonu) require a seaplane transfer on Trans Maldivian Airways, taking 30 to 60 minutes. Seaplanes only operate during daylight hours. Resorts in the far south use domestic flights to regional airports like Gan or Kadhdhoo followed by a short boat ride.
December through March is peak season, corresponding to the Maldives dry season (northeast monsoon). This is also when European winter drives demand for tropical destinations. Christmas, New Year, and February school holidays see the highest fares. SWISS runs maximum frequency during this period. The wet season from May through November has lower fares and fewer flights but still offers good diving conditions.

Zurich to Male (Maldives) Flights

ZRH-MLE covers 8,000 km in about 9.5 to 10 hours eastbound. SWISS operates nonstop service 1 to 3 times per week with A330-300 or A340 aircraft. Edelweiss Air adds seasonal frequencies in winter. One-stop alternatives through Gulf hubs on Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad are available year-round. Switzerland is one of the top European source markets for Maldives tourism, and the SWISS nonstop connection keeps travel time to a minimum.

Velana International Airport is on Hulhule island next to Male city. Resort transfers by speedboat, seaplane, or domestic flight depart from the airport area. Seaplanes only operate in daylight, so late-arriving flights from Europe may require an overnight in Male or Hulhumale before continuing to distant atolls. Peak season is December through March during the dry northeast monsoon. Fares spike over Christmas and New Year. The wet season from May through November has lower prices and fewer nonstop frequencies but still draws divers and visitors looking for lower fares.