Earlier, Novoair operated from Dhaka-Rajshahi air route. They closed down the business on this route after showing losses. Currently, passengers on this route have to rely mainly on US-Bangla Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines. As competitors have decreased, the options for passengers have also become limited. When the seats on a particular flight are full, many have no other option but to wait for the next flight.
Passengers complain that taking advantage of this situation, ticket prices are also increasing during times of demand. Earlier, the fare for economy class on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route was between 3,000 and 4,000 taka. The fares for other categories were also relatively affordable. However, passengers complain that currently the ticket prices of various categories of US-Bangla Airlines have increased significantly.
Passengers claim that economy class fares are being charged from 5,700 to 11,000 taka. There are allegations that fares increase even more, especially when buying tickets at the last minute.
Abul Kalam Azad, a regular passenger on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route, said, “There is no shortage of passengers in Rajshahi. Even if a total of six flights are operated, three in the morning, three in the afternoon and three in the evening, each one will have full seats. However, due to the seat shortage, helpless people, especially terminally ill patients, are having to buy tickets at prices ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 taka or more.”
He also said that due to competition between multiple airlines on other busy routes, passengers get the opportunity to buy tickets at comparatively lower prices. But due to the reduction in competitors on the Rajshahi route, passengers have no alternative. As a result, ticket prices are increasing during times of demand. Passengers are forced to pay extra to buy tickets.
Currently, US-Bangla Airlines operates daily flights on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route. On the other hand, Biman Bangladesh Airlines operates flights on this route on certain days of the week. As a result, when passenger pressure increases on a particular day, a ticket crisis quickly arises. Passengers complain that it has become difficult to get tickets for the desired time if tickets are not booked at least a week in advance. The situation becomes more complicated if it is not possible to plan the trip in advance, especially for urgent needs such as medical treatment.
The concerned people believe that there is no shortage of passengers on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route. A large number of people travel from Rajshahi to Dhaka every day for medical, higher education, business, government and private official work and tourism. There is regular passenger pressure on this route due to various educational institutions including Rajshahi University, business and commerce in the northern region and medical services. In addition, the arrival of domestic and foreign tourists to various historical and archaeological places including Rajshahi, Puthia, Barendra region has also increased the importance of this air route.
The main demand of the passengers to resolve the flight crisis is to increase the number of flights on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route. According to them, if there are enough flights in the three time slots – morning, noon and afternoon, the passengers will be able to choose the time according to their needs. At the same time, new domestic airlines need to be encouraged to operate flights on this route. If Air Astra and other domestic airlines start regular services on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route, competition will increase and passengers will have alternatives.
Professor Kamruzzaman, a teacher at Rajshahi University, regularly travels on the Dhaka-Rajshahi air route for classes, viva and moderation work at various universities. He said, “Recently, passengers’ inconveniences on this route have been increasing. Ticket prices have increased a lot. Effective monitoring by the Civil Aviation Authority is needed to reduce these inconveniences.” He said, “If the number of passengers on the route, seat availability, ticket prices and booking patterns are regularly monitored, it will be possible to understand the real situation in the market. If any irregularities or allegations of excessive fare collection are found, I think it is necessary to take effective initiatives to investigate them.”
When asked about the overall situation, Shah Makhdum Airport Rajshahi Port Manager Ms. Dilara Parveen said, “As far as I know, Novoair had withdrawn its flights. Since then, due to the reduced number of flights, the prices have increased slightly due to the pressure of passengers and the demand for tickets. But whether the prices increase or not, these are not in our hands.”
Earlier, Novoair operated from Dhaka-Rajshahi air route. They closed down the business on this route after showing losses. Currently, passengers on this route have to rely mainly on US-Bangla Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines. With the decrease in competitors, the options for passengers have also become limited. When the seats on a particular flight are full, many have no other option but to wait for the next flight.
Passengers complain that taking advantage of this situation, ticket prices are also increasing during times of demand. Earlier, the fare for economy class on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route was between 3,000 and 4,000 taka. The fares for other categories were also relatively affordable. However, passengers complain that currently the ticket prices of various categories of US-Bangla Airlines have increased significantly.
Passengers claim that economy class fares are being charged from 5,700 to 11,000 taka. There are allegations that fares increase even more, especially when buying tickets at the last minute.
Abul Kalam Azad, a regular passenger on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route, said, “There is no shortage of passengers in Rajshahi. Even if a total of six flights are operated, three in the morning, three in the afternoon and three in the evening, each one will have full seats. However, due to the seat shortage, helpless people, especially terminally ill patients, are having to buy tickets at prices ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 taka or more.”
He also said that due to competition between multiple airlines on other busy routes, passengers get the opportunity to buy tickets at comparatively lower prices. But due to the reduction in competitors on the Rajshahi route, passengers have no alternative. As a result, ticket prices are increasing during times of demand. Passengers are forced to pay extra to buy tickets.
Currently, US-Bangla Airlines operates daily flights on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route. On the other hand, Biman Bangladesh Airlines operates flights on this route on certain days of the week. As a result, when passenger pressure increases on a particular day, a ticket crisis quickly arises. Passengers complain that it has become difficult to get tickets for the desired time if tickets are not booked at least a week in advance. The situation becomes more complicated if it is not possible to plan the trip in advance, especially for urgent needs such as medical treatment.
The concerned people believe that there is no shortage of passengers on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route. A large number of people travel from Rajshahi to Dhaka every day for medical, higher education, business, government and private official work and tourism. There is regular passenger pressure on this route due to various educational institutions including Rajshahi University, business and commerce in the northern region and medical services. In addition, the arrival of domestic and foreign tourists to various historical and archaeological places including Rajshahi, Puthia, Barendra region has also increased the importance of this air route.
The main demand of the passengers to resolve the flight crisis is to increase the number of flights on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route. According to them, if there are enough flights in the three time slots – morning, noon and afternoon, the passengers will be able to choose the time according to their needs. At the same time, new domestic airlines need to be encouraged to operate flights on this route. If Air Astra and other domestic airlines start regular services on the Rajshahi-Dhaka route, competition will increase and passengers will have alternatives.
Professor Kamruzzaman, a teacher at Rajshahi University, regularly travels on the Dhaka-Rajshahi air route for classes, viva and moderation work at various universities. He said, “Recently, passengers’ inconveniences on this route have been increasing. Ticket prices have increased a lot. Effective monitoring by the Civil Aviation Authority is needed to reduce these inconveniences.” He said, “If the number of passengers on the route, seat availability, ticket prices and booking patterns are regularly monitored, it will be possible to understand the real situation in the market. If any irregularities or allegations of excessive fare collection are found, I think it is necessary to take effective initiatives to investigate them.”
When asked about the overall situation, Shah Makhdum Airport Rajshahi Port Manager Ms. Dilara Parveen said, “As far as I know, Novoair had withdrawn its flights. Since then, due to the reduced number of flights, the prices have increased slightly due to the pressure of passengers and the demand for tickets. But whether the prices increase or not, these are not in our hands.”
When asked if there is any plan to alleviate the suffering, he said, “If any airline wants to come to this line, we can look into the matter of approval. I am not aware of any new airline wanting to come or whether the Civil Aviation Authority is planning to connect it.”