Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The inaugural flight of ‘Maldivian’, the national carrier of the Maldives, touched down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Thursday, establishing the first direct air connectivity among Dhaka, Chennai and Male.
Minister of State for Defense and National Security of the Maldives Sheikh Ilyas Hussain Ibrahim travelled to Dhaka on the first flight, Q2-550, a press statement said on Friday.
Maldivian, a full service airline, owned and operated by Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL), will operate an Airbus A320 aircraft with a configuration of 14 business class, 18 premium economy and 120 economy class seats on the Dhaka-Chennai-Male route on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Acting High Commissioner of the Maldives in Dhaka Ahmed Adil and Chairman, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain and other senior officials of CAAB and Biman Bangladesh Airlines welcomed the flight.
At a welcome ceremony at the airport VIP Lounge, dignitaries expressed their strong belief that bilateral trade, commerce and tourism will get a significant boost with the opening of the direct air link between Bangladesh and Maldives as well as the South Indian region.
Besides, Bangladeshi expatriates in the Maldives now can avail themselves of this hassle-free cost effective direct travel option to and from Male.
Tourists from Bangladesh can avail themselves of ‘visa on arrival’ at the Male international airport.
BBN/SSR/AD-16Nov12-11:10 pm (BST)
