Air passengers will face an additional charge ranging from Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,050 on top of current airfares for domestic flights, as stated by officials from US-Bangla Airlines and Novoair. This adjustment in fuel surcharges and taxes was necessitated by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission’s (BERC) decision to increase jet fuel prices by approximately 80 percent due to global market volatility related to the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
The new structure sets the price of jet fuel for domestic flights at Tk 202.29 per liter, up from Tk 112.41, while international flights will see a cost of $1.3216 (Tk 162.21) per liter, up from the current $0.738 (Tk 90.58). According to Mofizur Rahman, the secretary general of the Aviation Operators Association of Bangladesh (AOAB), airlines will now need to pay Tk 1,200 for duties and VAT for domestic flights, a significant increase from the previous Tk 150.
Industry experts warn that these adjustments will have negative implications for both air travelers and the local airline sector. Following the surcharge and tax revisions, passengers traveling one-way to Sylhet will now face a minimum charge of Tk 5,849, up from Tk 4,799 previously, with a portion of this amount going towards government taxes and VAT.
US-Bangla Airlines’ General Manager of Public Relations, Kamrul Islam, emphasized the necessity of updating surcharge rates in response to BERC’s unprecedented hike in jet fuel prices. Meanwhile, Mofizur, also the managing director of Novoair, highlighted the concerns raised by the AOAB during a meeting with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita regarding the adverse effects of the government’s decision to raise jet fuel prices.
Mofizur pointed out that the Philippine government had reduced various aeronautical and non-aeronautical charges by 50 to 60 percent to support its local aviation industry, contrasting with the lack of similar measures in Bangladesh. However, he noted that the civil aviation minister has acknowledged the AOAB’s concerns and pledged to communicate them to relevant ministries and departments.
