The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

All the domestic airliners, except Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited, have abruptly raised their fares of Dhaka-Chittagong route saying that the fuel price, taxes and surcharges have increased significantly.

Their new fares took effect yesterday even though the passengers had no idea about the enhanced fare.

The airliners have sent a directive to their officers and sales agents in this connection. "We've re-fixed our ticket fare, including all taxes and surcharges, at Tk 4,995," Best Air chairman M Haider Uzzaman told UNB yesterday.

He said the Padma Oil has increased the fuel used by aircraft up to 15 percent.

The previous airfares of all the domestic airliners of their Dhaka-Chittagong route were more or less below Tk 4,000, including all the surcharges and taxes.

Sources in GMG Airlines, United Airways and Royal Bengal confirmed that they have raised the fares of the most important Dhaka-Chittagong domestic route.

According to the sources, the high officials of the four private airliners sat in a meeting a couple of days back and decided to re-fix the fare at Tk 4,995, including all the taxes and charges.

Talking to UNB, MA Momen, managing director and chief executive officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited, the national flag carrier, said they have not yet taken any decision on enhancing the fare of the route.

Currently, Biman offers two types of fare. One is Tk 2500 plus Tk 225 in its wide-bodied aircraft that connect Chittagong after their takeoff from Dhaka or when they end their destination in Dhaka.

The fare of small aircraft that is dedicated to Dhaka-Chittagong route is Tk 3500 plus Tk 225.

Experts said the growing trend of taking flights by the passengers might shrink due to the enhancement of fare as most of the domestic passengers are of the Dhaka-Chittagong route.