We are concerned about the soaring airfares on various routes, particularly those to Middle Eastern countries, which are the primary destinations for our migrant workers. Reportedly, ticket prices on these routes have surged two to three times due to an artificial crisis created by an unregulated market system and inadequate government oversight. According to data from the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), the cost of flying to Saudi Arabia has jumped from Tk 45,000–50,000 to around Tk 1.90 lakh, which is unjustifiable. While the high ticket prices are affecting all outbound passengers on these routes, it is our migrant workers who are suffering the most.

A key driver of this surge is the unethical practice of some airlines blocking group seats months in advance through email bookings—without requiring passenger names, passports, visas, or work permits. In other words, they create PNRs (Passenger Name Records) without providing any details of passengers, allowing certain agencies to hoard tickets and create artificial demand.

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A key driver of this surge is the unethical practice of some airlines blocking group seats months in advance through email bookings—without requiring passenger names, passports, visas, or work permits. In other words, they create PNRs (Passenger Name Records) without providing any details of passengers, allowing certain agencies to hoard tickets and create artificial demand. Reports indicate that as many as 60,000 seats on Saudi-bound flights of 11 airlines—including Fly Dubai, Jazeera Airways, Gulf Air, and Salam Air—have been blocked in this manner.

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Biman can no longer be a law unto itself

Unfortunately, this is not the first time such malpractice has been reported. Last year, Malaysia-bound migrant workers faced a similar crisis when a syndicate comprising Biman officials and high-ups artificially inflated ticket prices. As a result, thousands of workers failed to reach Malaysia before the May 31 deadline, when the labour market there closed for Bangladeshis. Our migrant workers already have to bear high migration costs, and these excessive airfares only worsen their struggles.

The syndicate of travel agencies hoarding tickets must be dismantled, and a task force—including representatives from relevant ministries and CAAB—should be formed to hold unethical travel agents and airline staff accountable. Airlines must also impose a maximum sales limit per agency to prevent hoarding and price manipulation.

We, therefore, urge the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to take immediate action to stop these unfair practices. The syndicate of travel agencies hoarding tickets must be dismantled, and a task force—including representatives from relevant ministries and CAAB—should be formed to hold unethical travel agents and airline staff accountable. Airlines must also impose a maximum sales limit per agency to prevent hoarding and price manipulation. Furthermore, a reasonable minimum and maximum fare should be set for different routes. To ensure transparency, tickets for migrant workers and Umrah pilgrims must clearly specify fare and agency details. Without such measures, illegal practices will persist, making air travel increasingly unaffordable for those who need it most.