Kamruzzaman Bablu :
Umrah pilgrims, and migrant workers are facing huge difficulties to reach Saudi Arabia due to flight shortage.
“A reduced flight frequency and sudden rise in Umrah visa has created the crisis causing sufferings to Umrah pilgrims, and migrant workers,” President of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) M Shahadat Hossain Taslim told The New Nation yesterday.
He added, “The situation also led to rise in airfares also further worsening owes of the air passengers.”
The HAAB leader mentioned that the Umrah and migrant passengers might take alternative flights to reach Saudi Arabia causing huge revenue losses for Biman.
Currently, Biman and Saudi Airlines are operating direct flights from Dhaka to Jeddah and Dhaka-Riyadh.
“If the government does not take immediate steps, Biman may deprive of at least Tk 90 crore of revenue from this international
route this year,” Taslim added. He cited that many of the pilgrims, who have already collected Umrah visa and booked hotels in Saudi Arabia, are still waiting for their air-tickets. If the situation lingers, around 20,000 pilgrims would not be able to reach Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.
HAAB officials said, in the last several years Saudi Arabia used to issue Umrah visa only six to seven months in a year. But recently the country has started issuing this visa round the year.
This year, it issued 1,62,508 Umrah visa for Bangladeshis till May 8 and the number is double from the last few years.
Earlier, HAAB sent a letter to Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry fearing visa cancellation of at least 20,000 Umrah and migrant passangers due to ticket crisis of the national flag carrier.
“Enhancing flight frequency along with introduction of Open Sky Policy can tackle the crisis, created by enhanced number of Umrah passengers,” said the newly elected HAAB President.
Normally, airfare of Dhaka-Jeddah and Dhaka-Riyadh flight is Tk 50,000. But the airfares go up to Tk 80,000 to Tk 90,000 for per passenger due to ticket crisis.
“Such a situation also hits many Bangladeshi migrant workers, who came home on vacation. They could not go to their respective workplaces (in Saudi Arabia) in time due to sudden rise in airfares,” said HAAB President.
“Biman should immediately halt short distance and non-profitable flights for a certain period to handle the situation. Otherwise, Umrah and migrant passengers might take alternative flights to reach Saudi Arabia causing huge revenue losses for Biman,” said Taslim.
According to Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), a total seven airlines, including Biman Bangladesh Airlines, operate flights from Bangladesh to Middle East. Among them, Air Arabia 21, Saudi Arabian Airlines 16, Biman Bangladesh Airlines 16, Emirates Airlines 14, Kuwait Air 7, Gulf Air 7 and Oman based Salam Air operates 3 flights in a week respectively.
All those airlines ferries a total of 24,634 passengers a week, including Umrah and migrants, from Bangladesh.
Recently the UAE-based Fly Dubai and Etihad Airways stopped their operations completely in Bangladesh, which is also responsible for the seat crisis.
Umrah pilgrims, and migrant workers are facing huge difficulties to reach Saudi Arabia due to flight shortage.
“A reduced flight frequency and sudden rise in Umrah visa has created the crisis causing sufferings to Umrah pilgrims, and migrant workers,” President of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) M Shahadat Hossain Taslim told The New Nation yesterday.
He added, “The situation also led to rise in airfares also further worsening owes of the air passengers.”
The HAAB leader mentioned that the Umrah and migrant passengers might take alternative flights to reach Saudi Arabia causing huge revenue losses for Biman.
Currently, Biman and Saudi Airlines are operating direct flights from Dhaka to Jeddah and Dhaka-Riyadh.
“If the government does not take immediate steps, Biman may deprive of at least Tk 90 crore of revenue from this international
route this year,” Taslim added. He cited that many of the pilgrims, who have already collected Umrah visa and booked hotels in Saudi Arabia, are still waiting for their air-tickets. If the situation lingers, around 20,000 pilgrims would not be able to reach Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.
HAAB officials said, in the last several years Saudi Arabia used to issue Umrah visa only six to seven months in a year. But recently the country has started issuing this visa round the year.
This year, it issued 1,62,508 Umrah visa for Bangladeshis till May 8 and the number is double from the last few years.
Earlier, HAAB sent a letter to Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry fearing visa cancellation of at least 20,000 Umrah and migrant passangers due to ticket crisis of the national flag carrier.
“Enhancing flight frequency along with introduction of Open Sky Policy can tackle the crisis, created by enhanced number of Umrah passengers,” said the newly elected HAAB President.
Normally, airfare of Dhaka-Jeddah and Dhaka-Riyadh flight is Tk 50,000. But the airfares go up to Tk 80,000 to Tk 90,000 for per passenger due to ticket crisis.
“Such a situation also hits many Bangladeshi migrant workers, who came home on vacation. They could not go to their respective workplaces (in Saudi Arabia) in time due to sudden rise in airfares,” said HAAB President.
“Biman should immediately halt short distance and non-profitable flights for a certain period to handle the situation. Otherwise, Umrah and migrant passengers might take alternative flights to reach Saudi Arabia causing huge revenue losses for Biman,” said Taslim.
According to Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), a total seven airlines, including Biman Bangladesh Airlines, operate flights from Bangladesh to Middle East. Among them, Air Arabia 21, Saudi Arabian Airlines 16, Biman Bangladesh Airlines 16, Emirates Airlines 14, Kuwait Air 7, Gulf Air 7 and Oman based Salam Air operates 3 flights in a week respectively.
All those airlines ferries a total of 24,634 passengers a week, including Umrah and migrants, from Bangladesh.
Recently the UAE-based Fly Dubai and Etihad Airways stopped their operations completely in Bangladesh, which is also responsible for the seat crisis.
