Airfares, particularly for flights to Saudi Arabia, have dropped by nearly 75% following government intervention and stricter regulations, according to the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB).

Between December and February, passengers faced exorbitant fares for flights from Dhaka to major Saudi cities, with prices soaring to Tk 190,000 under group booking schemes.

However, ticket prices have now dropped significantly, with fares as low as Tk 48,000 to Tk 50,000 following government interventions. Some airlines are even offering tickets for Dhaka-Dammam and Dhaka-Riyadh routes for as little as Tk 35,000, it said.

To curb rising airfares and ensure market discipline, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism issued a directive on February 11, enforcing stricter regulations on ticket bookings.

The directive aims to enhance transparency and eliminate artificially inflated prices for key destinations such as Jeddah, Madinah, Dammam, and Riyadh. Under the new rules, tickets must be booked with the passenger's name, passport details, and a photocopy of the passport. This measure has led airlines to release previously blocked tickets, increasing seat availability in reservation systems.

As a result, both passengers and travel agencies now have real-time access to ticket fares and seat availability, fostering competition and driving prices down.

In a statement, ATAB praised the government's intervention as a timely and necessary step to ease financial pressure on travelers, particularly migrant workers who rely on affordable air travel.

"This initiative benefits not only passengers but also the travel industry by ensuring a more transparent and competitive market. We are grateful to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism for taking this decisive step," said ATAB Secretary General Afsia Jannat Saleh.

However, Afsia stressed the need for continued government oversight.

"Strengthened monitoring and regulatory enforcement will be essential to prevent airlines from reverting to old practices," she added, calling for additional laws to maintain market stability and protect consumers from inflated prices in the future.

"If effectively enforced, this initiative is expected to bring lasting changes to the air ticket industry, benefiting Bangladeshi passengers, particularly migrant workers," she said.

ATAB also acknowledged the contributions of Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul, Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, and Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Begum Nasrin Jahan in addressing the issue.

With the directive and ongoing monitoring, ATAB remains optimistic that Bangladesh's air travel market will stay disciplined and tickets will remain affordable.

Earlier this year, on January 26, ATAB urged government intervention during a press conference, calling for immediate action against soaring ticket costs and market syndication.