Before November last year, a passenger flying to Malaysia usually paid around 25,000-30,000 taka for a one-way flight. Since November, the airfare has shot up to around Rs 85,000-90,000 for a one-way flight.
SN Manzoor Murshid Mehboob, president of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh or ATAB, blamed the airliners and their ticketing agents for such hikes.
“Yes, I agree that the demand is high, and the devaluation of Bangladeshi currency has played a significant role in the hike. But that too does not justify such a disproportionate hike. Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority to keep the airfare at a reasonable amount Should intervene to discuss with the airliners,” he said.
A quick search on the websites of US-Bangla, Air Asia and Batik airliners on Sunday evening revealed that a one-way direct flight from Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur on February 28 would cost a passenger 80,244 taka, 76,896 taka and 80,232 taka respectively.