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Passengers on the Dhaka-Rajshahi route are facing severe difficulties due to a shortage of flights, scarce tickets and soaring airfares, with last-minute fares sometimes reaching nearly Tk 18,000.
The crisis has intensified since Novoair suddenly suspended its operations on the route, leaving US-Bangla Airlines and national flag carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines as the main operators.
Passengers and industry insiders said the reduced competition has contributed to a shortage of seats and higher fares. They also alleged that limited seat availability during peak periods is allowing airlines to charge significantly higher prices.
US-Bangla currently operates two daily flights on the route, departing Dhaka at 7:15am and 5:15pm and Rajshahi at 8:35am and 6:40pm.
Biman operates flights only three days a week—Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. On Monday and Wednesday, its flight leaves Dhaka at 8:45am and returns from Rajshahi at 10:10am. On Saturday, it departs Dhaka at 4:50pm and returns from Rajshahi at 6:15pm.
With limited competition, passengers now often need to book tickets at least a week in advance. US-Bangla’s lowest economy fare is currently around Tk 5,749, while other economy categories range from Tk 6,549 to Tk 11,549. Last-minute fares during peak periods can rise to Tk 18,000.
Regular passenger Abul Kalam Azad said there was no shortage of passengers on the route and that airlines could easily fill additional flights.
“Even if three flights operated in the morning and three more at noon and in the afternoon, all the seats would remain occupied,” he said, adding that critically ill patients and other urgent travellers were being forced to pay Tk 8,000 to Tk 10,000 or more for tickets.
He compared the situation with the Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route, where greater competition and more flights sometimes allow passengers to buy tickets for around Tk 4,300.
The high fares are also affecting tourism and healthcare in Rajshahi, he said. Travellers who cannot afford airfares are increasingly relying on eight- to 10-hour road or train journeys. This could also increase road traffic, carbon emissions and noise pollution.
He said high fares and limited flights were discouraging tourists and foreign researchers from visiting attractions such as Rajshahi, Puthia and the Barind region for short eco-tourism trips. Patients requiring specialised treatment in Dhaka are also suffering when they cannot reach the capital in time.
He called on the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to introduce an effective fare ceiling or price cap and take measures to increase competition on the route. Airlines and tourism authorities could also introduce affordable off-peak travel packages to promote regional tourism.
Dr Alamgir Hossain, a regular traveller, said fares had increased substantially compared with the past.
“We used to travel for around Tk 3,000. Now it is around Tk 5,700 or Tk 6,000, and we have to book a week in advance,” he said.
Mosa Dilara Parvin, airport manager of Shah Makhdum Airport in Rajshahi, said Novoair had withdrawn its flights, resulting in fewer flights and higher demand for tickets.
“As far as I know, Novoair withdrew its flights. Since then, the number of flights has decreased while passenger pressure and demand for tickets have increased,” she said.
She added that the airport authorities had no control over airfare increases.
Regarding measures to ease the crisis, she said the airport could consider approval-related matters if another airline wanted to operate on the route.
“However, I am not aware of any plan by the Civil Aviation Authority to bring in or connect another airline to this route,” she said.
