Three air operators of the country – Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla, and NovoAir – have been struggling to attract passengers on to flights from Dhaka to Jessore and Barisal as southbound travellers have been preferring to use the Padma Bridge since it opened in late June.
The airlines have already significantly lowered ticket fares on flights from the capital to the two districts, but this is yet to have a significant impact on the low passenger traffic.
In light of the circumstances, NovoAir has decided to temporarily suspend flights to and from Barisal effective from August 1. Representatives of the other two airlines said they were keeping an eye on the situation, and they expected it to change soon.
Biman spokesperson Tahera Khondoker on Wednesday told Dhaka Tribune the national flag carrier had revised fares on flights to Jessore and Barisal.
Tickets for Biman flights from Dhaka to Jessore now cost Tk3,200 and to Barisal Tk3,000, as compared to the previous Tk3,500 on both routes.
The two private airlines are now charging Tk3,499 for flights to Barisal and Tk3,699 for flights to Jessore, as compared to the previous Tk4,500 on both routes.
US-Bangla spokesperson Kamrul Islam on Wednesday said: "No mode of transportation is ever competitive with the others. Those who are used to travelling by air will travel by air. We are not thinking of suspending the flights yet.”
He added that it was the off season for air travel and travellers were enjoying using the recently opened Padma Bridge as it saved them time and money.
Barisal bound businessman Sajib Khan said he used to travel by air, but he can now travel to Dhaka for his work in an hour by car.
“Previously, I was dependent on the availability of the flights and even had to wait four hours before I could get one, but now I can use the car to travel whenever I need to,” he added.
Mahbub Zaman, who also used to be a regular aircraft passenger, said: “It takes three or four hours to travel by bus, but we can start the journey immediately after work instead of waiting for a flight. This saves both time and money.”