With the surge in domestic air passengers due to continuous blockades and shutdowns, tickets are now available in black market at higher prices.
Passengers alleged that when the airlines show all tickets sold, the black market has now become a source of costlier tickers.
Some also alleged that the airlines staff are involved in the black marketing of tickets.
However, the airlines refuted the allegations and said if outsiders are involved, the companies have no tool to stop them as there is no system of showing traveller’s passport like in international journey.
Apart from it, the domestic airlines have also raised fares capitalising on the influx of blockade-hit travellers, said the passengers.
“We have to pay higher prices for air tickets in domestic routes now,” said Murad Hossain, a regular passenger in Dhaka-Chittagong route.
“As we have no other option for travelling during the blockades and hartals, the airlines are taking the chance of it raising fares.”
He said when the fare in the Dhaka-Chittagong route was generally Tk4,000 for an economy class ticket, it has soared to Tk6,000-6,500 after the highways are affected by the continuous blockades.
Another passenger tarvelling in the same route made the same allegations. He said the staff are themselves complicit with manipulating ticket sales.
“Promotional tickets are not found now. But they do exist and the airlines staff are selling it to the customers at higher prices,” said Yasir Adnan, a passenger.
When contacted, Quamrul Islam, assistant general manager of United Airlines, ruled out the fare hike.
“I can confirm you that there has been no increase in fares for last couple of months,” he said, adding they however needed to “reorganise” fares in different routes in November.
“There are five categories of fare on the basis of how early a passenger buys his ticket. In the range, the fair will go up as the flight time comes closer. If someone seeks ticket just few hours before the flight, he will have to pay the highest fare in the range.”
About the black marketing, a high executive of Regent Air ways said they do not have any mechanism to prevent it.
“In the current system, any person can travel in a domestic route with the ticket bought in other’s name,” he said.
The airline operators said the occupancy rate has increased to 60-100% during the ongoing political turmoil.
In Bangladesh, four airlines operate domestic flights the Bangladesh Biman, United Airways, Regent Airways and Novo Air. Bangladesh Biman is state-owned and the three others are private companies.
“We have no tickets unsold in Dhaka-Jessore route for next three days (till Saturday),” United Airways’ Quamrul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“If someone now comes to buy Sunday’s ticket, he will have to pay the highest price,” he added.
Bangladesh Biman and Novo Air however say they see no increase in their passengers because of blockades which have paralysed road transportation.
Novo Air is known to charge higher than other competitors as it claims that it offers better service. According to the airlines, it’s rather losing market share during the political unrest.
“Our occupancy rate has dropped below 30% in December from 50% during October-November period,” said a high official of NovoAir, requesting anonymity.
“On Wednesday, there were only eight passengers Dhaka-Jessore route and 15 passengers in the return flight.”
The official said: “NovoAir is a luxurious operator. Our regular passengers have cancelled traveling due to political unrest. When other operators are fully occupied, then some passengers come to us.”
“The political situation is making us lose.”
On the other hand, Bangladesh Biman is now busy operating international flights.