Air ticket price increased in several countries including America and the Middle East due to mismatch in supply and demand. If flights are not increased, there is a growing fear that passengers on these routes will have to buy tickets at higher prices.
Earlier, Qatar Airways operated four flights in a week from Dhaka to Doha. But now it is doing two flights in a week. Besides, other companies have also reduced flights to cause passengers to face seat crisis.
Sources said the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Income Tax detectives are working in the field to break ticket syndicates.
Meanwhile, regarding the increase in ticket prices, the airlines say ticket prices will start increasing from 2022 due to the depreciation of the taka against the dollar.
At that time, the exchange rate of 1 dollar against Tk 86 is now Tk 122. Here, there has been a 40 to 50 per cent price increase. Along with this, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has increased excise duty.
Salam Air Dhaka office country head Muhammad Ariful Islam Rajan said the fares are a little higher during December-January or June-August. Besides, many people go for Umrah before Eid.
Due to high pressure during these times, there is a crisis of tickets, and the prices also increase slightly. It becomes difficult to survive with the fares that are available at other times of the year except during this time.
Saudia Airlines GM Rafiqul Islam said some travel agents can take advantage of the opportunity to make a profit. However, the airlines have sold tickets in a transparent manner. Group booking rules are in place all over the world.
He said due to depreciation of the taka, the fare of air tickets remains the same in dollars, but in taka it has increased by 50 per cent. Apart from this, various taxes and fees have increased.
Sources said the Bangladesh government collects 9,890 tax per passenger when buying tickets on five routes from Dhaka to Singapore, Dubai, Oman, Sharjah, and Kuala Lumpur. However, on the same route, the Malaysian government charges Tk 2,568, Singapore Tk 5,878, Oman Tk 3,879, Dubai and Sharjah Tk 4,332.
The airlines said when a Boeing 737-800 model aircraft lands in Dhaka, it has to pay US$ 1,540 and 15 per cent VAT on it. However, when the same aircraft lands in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it has to pay a landing charge only around $120.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), foreign airlines still owe Bangladesh $165 million. Airlines are being discouraged from selling tickets to Bangladesh due to not receiving timely remittances from Bangladesh Bank. They have increased ticket prices from Bangladesh by about 30 per cent.
