Air ticket prices, especially for flights to various destinations in Saudi Arabia, have plummeted by nearly 75 percent following government intervention and the enforcement of stricter regulations, according to the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB).
Between December and February, passengers had to pay exorbitant fares for tickets from Dhaka to major Saudi Arabian cities, with prices reaching as high as Tk 1,90,000 under group booking schemes, reports BSS.
However, after the government began monitoring the situation, ticket prices fell sharply, with fares now ranging from Tk 48,000 to Tk 50,000. Some airlines are even offering tickets for routes such as Dhaka to Dammam and Dhaka to Riyadh at prices as low as Tk 35,000.
To curb escalating airfares and establish market discipline, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism of Bangladesh issued a directive on February 11, mandating stricter regulations for ticket bookings. The circular aimed to improve transparency and eliminate artificially inflated prices for destinations like Jeddah, Madinah, Dammam, and Riyadh.
Under the new regulations, tickets must be booked using the passenger's name, passport details, and a photocopy of the passport.
As a result, airlines have released previously blocked tickets, increasing seat availability in computer reservation systems. This has enabled both passengers and travel agencies to access real-time information on fares and seat availability, fostering competition among airlines and leading to lower prices.
The directive addresses the widespread issue of artificial seat shortages that had contributed to inflated airfares in recent months.
In a statement, ATAB praised the government’s intervention, calling it a timely and necessary step to ease the financial burden on travelers, especially migrant workers who rely on affordable air travel.
“This initiative benefits not only passengers but also the travel industry by ensuring a more transparent and competitive market. We are grateful to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism for taking this decisive step,” said ATAB Secretary General Afsia Jannat Saleh to BSS on Wednesday.
However, Afsia stressed the need for continued government oversight.
“Strengthened monitoring and regulatory enforcement will be essential to prevent airlines from reverting to old practices,” she said, adding that additional laws and regulations are also being proposed to maintain market stability and protect consumers from inflated prices in the future.
“If the government’s initiative is successfully enforced, it is expected to not only bring lasting changes to the air ticket industry but also ensure that Bangladeshi passengers, particularly migrant workers, continue to benefit from competitive and affordable travel options,” she said.
In its statement, ATAB also acknowledged the roles of Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul, Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqui, and Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Begum Nasrin Jahan in addressing the ticket pricing issue.
With the directive in place and a commitment to ongoing monitoring, ATAB remains optimistic that Bangladesh’s air travel market will maintain discipline and that affordable ticket prices will continue to be the norm.
Earlier this year, on January 26, ATAB called for intervention through a press conference, urging the government to take immediate action against soaring ticket costs and market syndication.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
