The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has issued a circular mandating airlines and travel agencies to ensure transparency in airfare pricing to protect passengers from overcharging and facilitate fair ticket sales.
The directive, issued on Tuesday by the ministry's CA-2 Section and signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Rumana Yasmin, details several measures to ensure that travellers can buy tickets at the actual fare.
Key directives
According to the circular, all ticket bookings—including group reservations—must include the passenger’s name, passport number, and a photocopy of the passport.
If a ticket is not issued within three days of booking, airlines will automatically cancel the reservation.
Additionally, tickets blocked under group bookings before Tuesday must be confirmed within seven days with complete passenger details.
Failure to do so will result in automatic cancellation within the following three days.
Transparent pricing and online sales
The directive emphasizes transparent pricing, requiring airlines and travel agencies to sell all tickets online with fares clearly displayed on both the website and the ticket itself.
Furthermore, all group ticket sales must be reported to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, which will publish the pricing information on its website for public awareness.
Airlines and travel agencies are strictly prohibited from selling tickets at prices higher than those submitted to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
They must also comply with the “Tariff Filing” requirements under Rule 289 of the Civil Aviation Rules, 1984, and the approved tariffs must be published on CAAB’s website.
Accountability and consumer protection
To enhance consumer protection, the circular instructs travel agencies to provide passengers with tickets that display the official price set by the airline, along with an official receipt for the sale.
In an effort to curb price manipulation, the ministry has warned that agencies found stockpiling tickets or selling them through unauthorized channels will face penalties.
Under Rule 15 of the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Rules, 2022, such agencies risk suspension or cancellation of their registration.
Special airfare for migrant workers
The directive also mandates airlines and travel agencies to provide special fares for migrant workers travelling on work visas.
It instructs Biman Bangladesh Airlines, other airlines, and the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) to take necessary measures within seven days to reduce ticket prices for expatriate workers, particularly those travelling to the Middle East and Malaysia.
Ban on unregistered agencies
To ensure fair competition and consumer safety, the ministry has prohibited ticket sales through unregistered travel agencies, in accordance with the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Act, 2013.
This initiative aims to safeguard consumer rights, maintain market transparency, and ensure affordable travel for migrant workers.
