Published: July 13, 2025, 01:41 AM
The air ticketing market in Bangladesh is once again being manipulated by powerful syndicates, with fares for Middle East-bound flights surging in defiance of government orders, alleges the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB).
According to a media release from ATAB on Saturday, ticket prices for one-way flights from Dhaka to destinations like Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, and Dammam spiked to nearly Tk 1 lakh during December to February under the pretense of “group bookings.” This is despite official system prices being between Tk 1.7 to Tk 1.8 lakh, significantly higher than standard one-way fares.
To curb such irregularities, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism issued a directive on February 11, mandating that tickets be issued only after submitting the passenger’s name, passport number, and a copy of the passport. Following this, prices dropped temporarily.
However, ATAB now reports that several airlines, including EgyptAir, Saudia, and certain budget carriers, are ignoring the directive. Syndicate groups have allegedly resumed operations, with tickets being booked under fake names and then modified shortly before departure to resell at inflated prices.
This tactic, which violates government regulations, is causing artificial seat shortages and driving up prices. The syndicates reportedly bypass official booking channels, allowing foreign travel agencies to buy bulk tickets and resell them through local brokers - sometimes with payments funneled abroad via illegal hundi networks.
The situation has become increasingly dire for general travelers, travel agencies, and migrant workers, who are bearing the brunt of the inflated prices. In many cases, legitimate businesses are incurring heavy losses.
The problem is further compounded by a noticeable reduction in flight frequencies by multiple airlines, particularly during high-demand periods. This has raised suspicions that some airlines may be intentionally cutting flights to create artificial scarcity and raise prices.
ATAB warns that the government`s failure to strictly enforce its own directive or penalize violators has allowed these syndicates to regain control of the ticketing market. As a result, airfare continues to climb, placing it out of reach for many, especially low-income migrant workers who rely heavily on these routes.
