Kamruzzaman Bablu :
After 10 years, Saudi Arabian government allotted it’s another airline to carry Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims from this year onwards. As a result, the Saudi Arabian airline Flynas has become the third carrier for Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh also gave the approval this much waiting offer in a letter on Friday, sources said.
Regarding the issue, Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) demanded to reduce current airfare fixed by the Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudia Airlines due to including the new carrier for hajj pilgrims from this year.
“It is big news for Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims and agencies to added third carrier during hajj period. So we hope that the two countries will reschedule the airfare announced by the two airlines”, M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, President of HAAB told The New Nation on Monday.
‘Though it is also quite difficult at this moment to re-fix the airfare because of time shortage’, he said.
But for a long run, pilgrims will be benefited in future for adding the new fleet in hajj carrying, added Taslim.
After all we are happy that the government has allowed another airline to ferry hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from Bangladesh which will create scope to deliver better services to the pilgrims, M Shahadat Hossain Taslim said.
“Pilgrims will now have another option for travel to Saudi Arabia apart from Biman and Saudia. They will be able to buy tickets at a competitive price,” he told.
Earlier, only Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudia Airlines were allowed to carry hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, the apex body of over 1,500 private hajj operators and different quarters have long been demanding a third carrier for operating hajj flights as the existing system of ferrying the pilgrims to Saudi Arabia has been costing the pilgrims more and creating a duopoly.
The national flag carrier Biman and its Saudi Arabian counterpart Saudia were the only two airlines transporting pilgrims from Dhaka since 2012 as per the hajj agreement signed between the two countries.
Since then, the two companies have enjoyed this duopoly over the hajj flights, charging exorbitant fares from the pilgrims, pointed out leaders of HAAB and Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB).
According to CAAB, though the Saudi Arabian government allowed Flynas as third carrier for Bangladeshi pilgrims but there is no chance to cut the slot from Bangladesh Biman this year. Slot for Flynas to be added only from Saudi Arabian Airline.
