ATAB urges government to decrease airfare to Middle Eastern destinations and increase number of flights
Expatriate workers suffering due to high airfare
Dhaka: The Association of Travel Agents Bangladesh has urged the government to reduce airfare on Middle Eastern routes as expatriate workers of our country are currently suffering due to the air ticket price hike in post-pandemic.
ATAB sent a letter to the State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali on December 5, demanding a decrease in airfares and increase in the number of flights.
To address the issue, the association also organised a press conference today at a city hotel in the capital where they urged the government to control ticket prices of all local and foreign airlines which operate flights on the route.
"Ticket prices on various routes in the Middle East till November 2021 were BDT 40,000 to BDT 45,000, but are now between BDT 70,000 to BDT 90,000. This is unreasonable and irrational. This is an impossible amount for migrants who are going to the country to work,” said Monsur Ahmed Kalam, President of ATAB.
"The Saudi government has recently increased the work visa quota for Bangladeshis. In addition, visit visas and employment visas are being issued at a higher rate in favour of Bangladeshi expatriates going to the UAE. Due to this, the demand from expatriate workers has increased," he added.
He further mentioned that due to the increased demand, airlines have increased fares. A ticket for Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates-bound flight would cost only BDT 30,000 in pre-pandemic times, but now it has doubled.
Even though the ticket price saw a rise during the pandemic, it also went through a slight fall in November 2021. But now, it is again on a rising trend.
Fewer flights amid the travel and capacity restrictions, a poor number of return-ticket holders and thin movement of tourists, along with an obligation to maintain standard operating procedures, have led to an increase in operating costs. These are said to be the causes behind the ticket price hike in post-pandemic.
