In an effort to prevent an abnormal surge in airfares, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry has issued ten directives aimed at regulating ticket sales and ensuring fair pricing for travelers.

The ministry released a circular on Tuesday detailing the new measures, which target airlines and travel agencies operating in the country.

Key directives:

· For all ticket bookings, including group reservations, travelers must provide their name, passport number, and a photocopy of their passport. If a ticket is not issued in the passenger’s name within three days, the airline must automatically cancel the booking after 72 hours.

· Airlines and travel agencies must finalize the sale of all previously blocked group-booked tickets within the next seven days, providing passenger details. Failure to comply will result in automatic cancellation within three days.

· Airlines must report the actual sale price of group-booked tickets to the Civil Aviation Ministry, which will then publish the prices on its website for public access.

· All air tickets must be sold online, and their prices must be clearly displayed both on the tickets and on the respective airline or agency's website.

· Airlines and travel agencies must follow the tariff filing provisions outlined in Rule 289 of the Civil Aviation Rules, 1984 and publish the approved fares on their websites.

· Airlines and travel agencies are prohibited from selling tickets at a higher price than the officially submitted fare. Travel agencies must provide passengers with a receipt indicating the original price set by the airline.

· Under Rule 15 of the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Rules, 2022, travel agencies that artificially inflate prices by reselling tickets through unauthorized agents may face suspension or cancellation of their registration certificates.

· Airlines and travel agencies operating in Bangladesh must introduce special airfares for individuals traveling on work visas.

· Within the next seven days, all airlines, including Biman Bangladesh Airlines and the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR), must take steps to reduce ticket prices for workers, particularly those traveling to the Middle East and Malaysia.

· As per the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Act, 2013, the sale of tickets through unregistered travel agencies must be stopped immediately.