This time the country is in the grip of a long holiday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of Muslims. So, a large number of people plan to go home or visit tourist spots.
The air route has become popular for Eid trips for several years to avoid sufferings on the road, pressure on the waterway and disruption of the train schedules.
Nowadays solvent people want to go to their village homes comfortably with their family members to avoid hassle. Due to this, the number of air passengers has also been increasing ahead of Eid.
Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated either on April 10 or 11, subject to moon sighting. As a result, most of air passengers are looking for tickets on April 5, 6, 7, and 9, according to sources concerned.
The country’s four airlines--Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, NOVOAIR and Air Astra--transport passengers on domestic routes. Around 80 per cent of homeward tickets of four airlines have already been sold with Eid more than one week away. More than 50 per cent of return tickets have also been sold, they say.
Airline officials say that ticket prices have increased as low-cost tickets are sold out in advance and demand has risen. This time the demand for tickets from Dhaka to Jashore, Saidpur, and Rajshahi routes is high. Apart from this, the demand for tickets on the Cox's Bazar route is high from the day of Eid to a few days.
Travel agents and aviation sector people said that people's tastes are changing day by day. The increase in air passengers is proof of that. Those who have little money do not want to suffer long traffic jam anymore. They want to return home easily during Eid or other times.
That's why they choose the air route. Due to the demand during Eid, ticket price increases. That is why anyone can get rid of this problem by booking tickets in advance, they said.
The airlines said that they get an opportunity to operate extra flights before Eid due to passenger pressure. This time they have taken such preparations.
US-Bangla Airlines General Manager (Public Relations) Kamrul Islam told The Business Post that the demand for tickets is high after 25 Ramadan. About 80 per cent of the tickets have been sold from 25 Ramadan to Eid day. They hope that the rest of tickets will be sold soon.
They will operate 60 to 65 flights to and from various destinations on domestic routes ahead of Eid this year. There is a high demand for Jashore, Saidpur, and Rajshahi tickets. On the other hand, passenger pressure in Sylhet and Chattogram is as usual. Passenger pressure on Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route is high for 5 days from Eid day.
In reply to a question, Kamrul said that they have no plan to increase flights so far. “But we are ready to operate additional flights if the demand goes high. Travellers have to spend some extra money if they want to buy tickets at the end.”
NOVOAIR's Head of Marketing and Sales Mesbahul Islam told The Business Post that they will operate 30 to 35 flights to and from different destinations. Already 80 per cent of tickets from Dhaka to various destinations have been sold.
Regarding ticket sales at high prices, he said that there is no scope for the airlines to overcharge the passengers. “Many do not know about this, so they complain. All airline tickets are sold online.”
Ticket prices depend on the demand. Whoever buys first can buy at the base price. As the demand increases, the ticket prices increase gradually. When 80 per cent tickets for a flight are sold, the same ticket can be bought at double price, he said.
Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity (BJKS) in its observations on Eid travel said that one crore people from Dhaka, 40 lakh from Gazipur, 12 lakh from Narayanganj and 16 lakh people from Dhaka’s surrounding districts will travel to different districts of the country during this Eid-ul-Fitr.
In the four days before Eid, 30 lakh passengers can travel by buses-minibuses, 4 lakh by trains, 35 lakh by private cars, jeeps and microbuses, 12 lakh by motorcycles, 60 lakh by launches, and about one lakh by aeroplanes.
It also said that due to public transport crisis and the anarchy of overcharging, 18 lakh passengers may travel on the roofs of buses, trains and open trucks and freight transports. Also, about 4 to 5 crore passengers will travel inter-district.
From April 5 to April 14, there may be an additional 6 crore passengers trip in different types of transports in the country due to various reasons including travel to Eid Bazar and village home.
For this reason, it is feared that if the proper use of public transport is not ensured, there may be a horrible situation during this Eid journey. So, Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity demanded that the government extend the Eid-ul-Fitr vacation by two days to ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey for holidaymakers.
