Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, has officially inaugurated direct flight operations between Velana International Airport and Dhaka, Bangladesh, marking a significant restoration of regional connectivity.
The carrier has designated a bi-weekly schedule for the route, with departures formalised for every Thursday and Sunday. These flights are strategically timed to arrive in the Bangladeshi capital during the early morning hours, a logistical arrangement designed to bolster convenience for passengers seeking fluid transfers to onward international destinations. This scheduling ensures that those traversing the network can access connecting flights with heightened efficiency, according to the airline.
The temporal alignment of this service coincides with the conclusion of Ramadan and the subsequent Eid-al-Fitr holidays, a period that serves as a substantial convenience for both Maldivian holidaymakers and the significant Bangladeshi migrant worker community residing within the Maldives. The decision to resume these operations follows an assessment of robust demand from both populations, with the overarching objective of further strengthening the air connectivity and bilateral framework between the two nations.
Such connectivity had been absent since August 2024, when service to Dhaka was suspended amidst the political volatility experienced in Bangladesh at that time. Prior to this hiatus, the national carrier had maintained a consistent weekly frequency to the Bangladeshi capital. Under the revised fare structure, round-trip tickets are priced starting from USD 399, a rate that includes a mandated checked baggage allowance of 30 kilogrammes per passenger to accommodate the specific requirements of the route.
The addition of Dhaka expands an international footprint that currently includes scheduled services to five destinations across India and China, supplemented by seasonal charters during peak holiday periods. This operational capacity is underpinned by a diverse fleet of 26 aircraft, ranging from a wide-body Airbus A330 and a narrow-body Airbus A320 for long-haul and regional routes to five ATR aircraft, eight Dash-8 models, and 11 Dash-6 Twin Otters.