Biman to reduce airfares further: Minister

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat on Sunday said the government is considering further reduction of airfares, particularly as Biman Bangladesh Airlines expands its routes and increases revenue.

Replying to a supplementary question from ruling party lawmaker from reserved women seat Helen Zerin Khan in Parliament, the minister said Biman had initially charged around 2 lakh taka for Hajj pilgrims’air tickets, which was later reduced by the interim government to around 1 lakh taka.

“We calculated the airfare up to 1.54 lakh taka during the last Hajj. This year, through dynamic pricing, we have brought it down to 1.3 lakh taka,” he said.

The minister said the government would consider reducing the fare further in the future, taking into account Biman’s aircraft procurement plans and the reopening or full operation of its routes.

“If our routes are fully operational, our revenue will increase. In that case, we will consider reducing airfares,” Millat said.

He added that Biman’s ticket prices would be determined in line with the prevailing practices of other airlines.

“We will determine our ticket prices keeping pace with how other airlines operate,” the minister said.

Responding to another supplementary question from opposition lawmaker Md. Mujibur Rahman (Rajshahi-1) regarding unusually high domestic airfares, particularly when tickets are purchased close to departure, the minister said the actual fare on the Dhaka-Chattogram route was around 6,400 taka, rather than 12,000 taka as claimed by the lawmaker.

He said passengers also have to pay around 15 percent in taxes and other applicable charges.

Millat said that the government has taken measures to prevent attempts to manipulate or black-market tickets at the last moment before a flight.

He said the government would ensure that passengers could purchase tickets at the officially determined prices.

“I can assure you that, inshallah, you will never have to buy this ticket at a higher price. You will be able to purchase it at the price that is fixed,” he told the Parliament.

The minister said the government was working to make air travel more affordable while ensuring that Biman remained financially sustainable.