The national carrier Maldivian has cancelled its flights to Dhaka, Bangladesh, scheduled for Saturday. The decision comes after a technical issue was identified with the Airbus aircraft operated on the route.
In a post to X, Maldivian confirmed the cancellation of two flights: one departing from Malé to Dhaka at 9:25 a.m. and another at 7:35 p.m. Passengers affected by the cancellations are being offered alternative travel options, including booking with other airlines or selecting different aircraft, according to the airline.
The technical issue was first discovered during a flight to Thiruvananthapuram, India, in June, and the aircraft has since undergone servicing to rectify the issue. Mohamed Naseer, Supervisor of Corporate Sales at Maldivian, stressed the airline’s commitment to passenger safety in an interview with a local media outlet.
“Before every flight, we conduct pre-flight checks,” Naseer stated. “If any issues are noticed, we will not take off. That is why we have cancelled [Saturday’s] flights.”
Maldivian’s Airbus A320 aircraft, currently the sole wide-body aircraft in its fleet, has faced technical challenges in the past. However, Naseer assured passengers that the airline is actively working to resolve the issue, with operations to Dhaka expected to resume on Sunday.
Maldivian is providing full refunds upon request for travellers affected by the cancellations, according to Naseer, while passengers can also explore alternative travel arrangements to minimise disruption.