Private airlines in Bangladesh have raised domestic airfares by up to Tk1,200 following a sharp 80 per cent overnight increase in jet fuel prices, effective from Wednesday.
State-run Biman Bangladesh Airlines, however, has yet to adjust fares.
Novoair and US-Bangla Airlines imposed a Tk1,200 surcharge on flights from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Sylhet and Saidpur, and Tk1,000 on routes to Jashore and Rajshahi.
Fares on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar route currently range between Tk5,000 and Tk10,000, while tickets for Dhaka–Jashore stand at Tk5,000 to Tk8,000.
Novoair Managing Director Mofizur Rahman criticised the fuel price increase, saying Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation holds sufficient stock procured at earlier rates.
He added that jet fuel prices in Bangladesh are now among the highest in Asia, with smaller increases seen in neighbouring markets such as Pakistan and no comparable hike in India.
Ticket booking has already dropped by around 30 per cent, Rahman said, warning that continued pressure could force airlines to suspend domestic operations.
Higher fares are also prompting travellers to shift to road transport, he added.
US-Bangla Airlines said the immediate impact on demand remains unclear, as many passengers had booked return tickets for Eid before the fare increase.
“We have not seen any drop in demand so far,” said Kamrul Islam, general manager for public relations at US-Bangla, adding that previously issued tickets were not subject to additional charges.
The airline said it is monitoring the market and may adjust flight frequency depending on demand. It also warned that higher fuel costs could affect tourism, hospitality, and export sectors reliant on air transport, including garments and perishable goods.
Air Astra has also introduced similar surcharges following the fuel price hike.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines has not raised fares, with operations continuing unchanged.
“We have not increased fares yet, and so far, we have not observed any drop in passenger demand or flight frequency,” said Boshra Islam, Biman Bangladesh general manager for public relations.
The Aviation Operators Association of Bangladesh on Tuesday warned that rising jet fuel prices could put airlines under financial strain and increase travel costs for passengers, which might lead to halts in flight operations.
