London now has direct service to Malé. British Airways operates BA61 from Heathrow on the Boeing 787, and Virgin Atlantic also runs a 787 service. Total flight time is around 10 hours 20 minutes; both flights operate from Heathrow Terminals 3 or 5 depending on the carrier.
Why this route works
Until recently, London-Malé was a one-stop trip via Dubai or Doha. The direct services launched by BA and Virgin removed an entire connection from the trip — significantly easier with luggage, with kids, or after a transatlantic prior leg.
What to know
The direct flights are typically pricier than equivalent one-stop Gulf routings, especially in economy. If price matters more than the door-to-door time, Emirates or Qatar Airways via DXB/DOH usually undercut the direct. If you'd rather sleep in your own bed before transferring to a seaplane, the direct wins on every other axis.