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Airfare to ME countries still higher


Published : 25 Dec 2021 10:52 PM | Updated : 26 Dec 2021 04:28 PM

To minimise the sufferings of country's expatriates due to high airfare while returning to their workplaces, the authorities concerned are holding discussion with the concerned airliners.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism authorities is learnt to have already informed the local and foreign airliners about the expatriates’ dissatisfaction over the sudden rise in airfare.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali repeatedly visited the airport and announced strict measures if any negligence is found against the expatriates.

He has also suggested the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to discuss those crises with other stakeholders.

CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshall Muhammad Mafidur Rahman told Bangladesh Post, "I have already held talks with all the airlines of the Middle East and expressed our dissatisfactions. We have requested them to reduce the airfares for our Middle East-bound passengers."

"We have also asked them to justify why they have increased the fare. If they are unable to explain the causes, we will tougher action against them," he added.

The CAAB chairman expressed his optimism that they are likely to reach a solution in this regard soon. 

Country's expatriates have fallen into deep crisis due to the sudden hike of Middle Eastern countries ticket price.

In one hand, despite paying high fare they are unable to manage their route ticket, on the other hand uncertainty looms over losing their jobs.

Airliners have said, due to half seat capacity operation, higher charges by foreign airports, higher fuel price and many other causes they were bound to increase the ticket fare for the ME countries.

Airlines and travel agents said that following the withdrawal of Covid-19 restriction, flights to different countries have been resumed, but the number of flights now remains same as before.

Earlier, an airline that used to operate daily at least two flights on a route, now it has been reduced to half.

As a result, the price of Middle Eastern Airlines tickets have gone up beyond expectation. Passengers complain that they have to pay for a ticket three or four times higher price than the normal time.

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