Dhaka: Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat today announced that the government is contemplating a further reduction in airfares as Biman Bangladesh Airlines expands its routes and boosts revenue. The minister's remarks were made during a parliamentary session in response to a supplementary question from Helen Zerin Khan, a ruling party lawmaker from a reserved women's seat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister highlighted Biman's efforts in reducing airfare for Hajj pilgrims, initially set at approximately Tk 2 lakh, which was subsequently lowered to around Tk 1.65 lakh by the interim government. For the last Hajj, dynamic pricing strategies were employed to further cut the cost to Tk 130,000. Millat emphasized the government's ongoing assessment of fare reductions in light of Biman's aircraft procurement and route optimization plans.
Millat expressed confidence that with fully operational routes, increased revenue would enable further fare reductions. He also mentioned that Biman's pricing strategy would align with the practices of other airlines, ensuring competitive ticket prices.
Addressing concerns over domestic airfares, particularly last-minute ticket purchases, Millat clarified that the actual fare for the Dhaka-Chattogram route is around Tk 6,400, contrary to claims of it being Tk 12,000. He explained the addition of around 15 percent in taxes and other charges to the base fare.
The minister assured that the government is implementing measures to curb ticket manipulation and black-market sales, ensuring passengers can buy tickets at officially determined prices. He reiterated the government's commitment to making air travel more affordable while maintaining Biman's financial sustainability.