The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) has demanded to take necessary steps to curb the abnormal rise in airlines ticket prices on various routes in the Middle East and prevent seat crisis.
The organization made the demand at a press conference held at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday.
Mansur Ahmed Kalam, President of the organization, said, “The one-way fare in different countries of the Middle East in November this year was around Tk 40-45 thousand. However, the airlines have increased the fare for unreasonable causes. Earlier the fare from Dhaka to Dubai was Tk 40,000 but now it costs Tk 87 thousand to go to Dubai in the Emirates. The one-way fare for Muscat in Oman was earlier Tk 35,000. However, now all the airlines are charging Tk 72,000. In this situation, it has become almost impossible and difficult for the migrants to pay the extra fare and go back to their workplaces on time.”
He said that all the airlines have increased the ticket prices in the country and abroad and the agencies have no influence on this issue.
“Despite the increase in flight fares in Bangladesh’s routes, fares are comparatively lower in the neighboring countries (India, Nepal). Many are unable to return to work due to the rising fares. Such a situation is creating a negative impact on the country's economy. Immigration expense is rising abnormally,” he added.
At the press conference, Mansur Ahmed Kalam further said that 5,000 people including tourists, expatriate workers and Umrah passengers are expected to travel from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries every day.
“However, due to the increase in ticket prices and the crisis of seats, only three thousand people are going every day,” he said.
ATAB has given four proposals to solve this crisis.
The proposals include increasing the number of flights of Middle Eastern airlines including Biman Bangladesh Airlines, accelerating the process of approval of additional slots of airlines by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), announcing special fares by the government for expatriate workers, and putting an end to unreasonable fare hikes in airlines.
They have sought the intervention of the Prime Minister to implement the demands.
