The government has issued new directives to curb bulk ticket hoarding and unauthorized reselling syndicates, aiming to ensure a fair and hassle-free ticketing system for air passengers.
The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, under the guidance of Additional Secretary Rumana Yasmin, issued a series of new directives to regulate the process.
As per the new rules, airlines and travel agencies must ensure that all air ticket bookings, including group reservations, include the passenger’s full name, passport number, and a copy of their passport.
If the ticket is not issued within three days of booking, the reservation will be automatically canceled by the airline.
For group bookings made before the issuance of these directives, airlines will allow a seven-day window to complete passenger details, after which the reservations will be canceled within the following three days.
In an effort to bring more transparency, airlines and travel agencies are now required to report the actual sale price of group tickets to the ministry.
This information will be publicly available online for passengers to review.
Additionally, all air tickets must be available for online purchase, with prices clearly displayed both online and on the physical ticket.
Travel agencies and airlines must adhere strictly to the tariff regulations outlined in the Civil Aviation Rules of 1984, ensuring all approved fares are published on the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) website.
The new directives also establish strict penalties for selling tickets above the approved rates.
Airlines and travel agencies are prohibited from charging fares higher than those submitted to CAAB.
They must issue fare receipts directly from the airline, in addition to providing a separate sales invoice.
If unauthorized ticket hoarding or resale occurs, the offending travel agency will face suspension or revocation of its registration under the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration & Control) Rules of 2022.
A special provision has also been made for workers traveling abroad on work visas, requiring airlines and travel agencies to offer discounted fares for these passengers.
In response to concerns over rising airfares, particularly for expatriate workers traveling to the Middle East and Malaysia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and other carriers have been instructed to work closely with the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) to lower ticket prices within the next seven days.
Additionally, the sale of tickets through unregistered travel agencies is now strictly prohibited under the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration & Control) Act, 2013.
These measures aim to address exploitative pricing practices and create a fairer, more efficient ticketing process for all air travelers.
Afsia Jannat Saleh, secretary general of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), has applauded the government’s efforts, calling them a necessary step toward restoring fairness to the travel sector.
The move to block unauthorized ticket hoarding by requiring passenger details for bookings is a welcome change, she said.
By urging ATAB members to adhere to the ministry’s directives, Saleh emphasizes the importance of maintaining ethical business practices and providing quality service.
This new framework could restore consumer trust and promote a more transparent, competitive market for air travel in Bangladesh, she added.