Maldivian hosts flight resumption celebration, Iftar Mahfil evening in Dhaka
Dhaka: Maldivian Airlines, in collaboration with its general sales agent (GSA), Galaxy Aviation Services, hosted a celebratory evening and Iftar Mahfil on Monday, February 23, at Sheraton Dhaka in the capital. The event marked the airline's resumption of flight services between Dhaka and Malé from March 12.
The evening began with an inaugural speech from Ahmed Yusuf Walid, Managing Director of Galaxy Aviation Services. In his speech, Walid shared the GSA's previous experience of working with Maldivian Airlines, highlighting the airline's commitment to providing seamless and customer-focused air services.
Following his remarks, Chief Guest Shiuneen Rasheed, High Commissioner of Maldives to Bangladesh, and Special Guest Ibrahim Iyas, Managing Director of Maldivian Airlines, addressed the audience.
High Commissioner Rasheed noted during his state visit to Bangladesh last week, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu kept connectivity as one of the top priorities on the agenda. The president emphasized the importance of strong and reliable air links for deepening economic progression and driving the bilateral partnership forward.
Ibrahim Iyas highlighted that the Bangladesh market demonstrated exceptional growth and resilience following the pandemic. More than 33,000 travelers from Bangladesh visited the archipelagic country in 2025, compared to around 3,000 just a decade earlier. Iyas attributed expatriate travel alongside leisure and business tourism to this remarkable growth trajectory.
Other key officials of the airline, including Director of Ground Operations Ahmed Ibrahim, General Manager Commercial (International) Mohamed Shaffah, Financial Controller Ahmed Rameez, Senior Sales Manager Aishath Sheuna Rasheed, and senior management of Galaxy Group, were also present during the event.
In addition to the airline and GSA representatives, the event brought together top travel agents and tour operators, industry experts and professionals from the aviation and tourism sector, corporate attendees, and government officials.
Maldivian Airlines then formally signed the GSA agreement with Galaxy Aviation Services. Subsequently, the event progressed into an Iftar Mahfil and industry get-together dinner, fostering networking among aviation and tourism professionals.
Earlier, on the same day, Maldivian Airlines opened its Town Office in Dhaka at Taj Marriott (25, Gulshan Avenue) in Gulshan. Managing Director Iyas formally inaugurated the office, with other delegates from the airline and Galaxy Aviation Services.
Maldivian Airlines, the national flag carrier of Maldives, will resume scheduled services to Dhaka from March 12, after pausing operations for a year over operational adjustments. Initially, the airline will operate two weekly flights every Sunday and Thursday, using the Airbus A320 aircraft.
The Dhaka-bound flight, Q2502, will depart from Malé at 00:20 and arrive in Dhaka at 5:20, while the return flight, Q2503, will depart from Dhaka at 6:20 and arrive in Malé at 9:30 (all times are local).
Malé-based Maldivian Airlines, the airline division of Island Aviation Services, has shown a sustainable expansion and development in recent years, adding more advanced and modern aircraft types and launching new domestic and international routes across the region.
With a fleet of 24 aircraft, comprising one A330, one A320, five ATRs, six Dash 8s, and eleven Dash 6 Twin Otters, the airline currently serves 49 routes across 28 destinations in six countries within the South and Southeast Asian region.
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