Maldivian resumes direct flights between Male’ and Dhaka after near two-year pause

Maldives’ national airline, Maldivian, resumed direct flights between Male’ and Dhaka on Thursday, nearly two years after it suspended flight to Bangladesh due to political turmoil in the country.

The airline had suspended flights to Dhaka in August 2024, amid deadly political upheaval in Bangladesh.

Maldivian welcomed the arrival of a direct flight from Dhaka to Male’ on Thursday, marking the relaunch of the key route.

According to Maldivian, it decided to restore the key air link between the Maldives and Bangladesh following strong demand from local travelers and the country's expatriate community.

The first flight arrived at Velana International Airport (VIA) in the morning, and passengers were welcomed with flowers at the arrival area to commemorate the milestone and celebrate the strengthening of travel links between the two countries.

Earlier, the first departure of the service from VIA was marked with a commemorative photo moment with the first passenger to check in from Male’.

Passengers travelling on the inaugural service on both sectors were also part of a small onboard celebration as cabin crew marked the milestone with a cake cutting.

The resumption of the Male’–Dhaka service comes at a key travel period towards the end of Ramadan, supporting the travel plans of many passengers ahead of Eid al-Fitr, including members of the Bangladeshi expatriate community living and working in the Maldives returning home for the holiday.

Beyond the seasonal peak, the service is also intended to support year-round travel between the two destinations.

Maldivian notes that Dhaka remains an important destination for local travelers for business, short visits and regional connections, while the route also serves the travel needs of a significant expatriate population living and working in the Maldives.

The service operates twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays.

Flight timings are scheduled to provide early morning arrivals into both Dhaka and Male’, offering passengers convenient onward connectivity whether continuing their travels across Bangladesh and the wider region, or arriving into the Maldives ready to begin their stay.

Maldivian believes that this makes the service particularly well-suited for the growing number of tourists choosing the Maldives as a destination, as well as for the expatriate community travelling between the two countries.