Still high airfare costing Bangladeshi migrants most

When international flights resumed in Bangladesh at the end of 2020 following coronavirus pandemic-induced suspensions_ expatriates heading mostly in the Middle East countries  heaved a sigh of relief.

However_ the comfort was temporary as they saw that airfare had almost doubled or even tripled in some instances comparing pre-Covid period. Now_ airfares have reduced significantly_ but still so high. For example_ Dhaka-Kuwait airfare was between BDT 39_000 and BDT 42_000_ but it reached BDT 80_000-90_000 during the peak of Covid-19 pandemic. Currently_ the fare is ranging between BDT 55_000 and BDT 58_000_ with no sign of come down. The fair of the Dhaka-Dubai and Dhaka-Muscat routes are also facing the same. However_ only the fare of Dhaka-Doha route has climbed down to the previous level.

The worst case_ however_ has been for them who are traveling to Saudi Arabia. The fare for the route is still as the fare of pandemic highs and no sign of decrease.

Interestingly_ fares for longer-route flights have come down almost to the pre-pandemic levels and now the fare of European and North American routes are not as expensive as the Middle Eastern destinations. A Dhaka- Melbourne ticket of Singapore Airlines costs around BDT 56_000_ which is a 12-hour journey_ while a ticket for Jeddah or Riyadh_ roughly a 5-hour journey_ costs around BDT 75_000.

Around 3.22 lakh Bangladeshi migrants have gone abroad in the first quarter of 2022 (January-March)_ of whom 64% were employed in Saudi Arabia. As more people are going to the country to perform Umrah_ which was closed due to pandemic_ pushing up the demand and thus airfare.

During pre-pandemic period_ a Riyadh-bound flight would cost BDT 30_000-36_000. But when travel restrictions were lifted_ the price soared to BDT 90_000. Now it has fallen to BDT 70_000. Airfare to the route is expected to decrease further after the Umrah travel pressure eases.

The major airlines which operate flights to Middle Eastern destinations from Bangladesh are Biman Bangladesh Airlines_ Emirates_ Fly Dubai_ US Bangla Airlines_ Air Arabia_ Oman Air_ Salam Air etc. Since the first week of April 2022_ airfare fell to BDT 38_000-58_000 in most of the Middle Eastern destinations except Saudi-based destinations.