Sheikh Bashiruddin, Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser, has expressed profound worry about the aviation industry’s prevalent “criminality” for many years.
“When I took on this job in civil aviation and saw the extent of criminality around it, it made me very unhappy. He stated that he is willing to go above and beyond to restore fairness in Bangladesh’s aviation sector, even if some may oppose the improvements he is proposing.
The consultant was speaking at the opening event for flyadeal, a new Saudi low-cost carrier that will begin operations on the Dhaka-Jeddah route on Tuesday evening at a major hotel.
He warned about criminal tendencies in the business, saying they must be eradicated.
The adviser expressed concern about the pricing practices of some airlines operating in the nation.
“I understand Flyadeal is a low-cost airline. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh, low-cost airline fares exceed those of traditional airlines. “This has been a very painful experience for me, and I do not want it,” he stated.
He questioned how budget airlines could charge more while providing fewer facilities, stating, “Low-cost flights do not even serve a drink of water on board. Even if they do, passengers must pay for it.” “So why are you not competitive in pricing? Who is taking the extra money? “I want to follow the trail of this money and solve the problem,” he said.
Bashir referred to structural flaws in the business, claiming that almost 13 million passengers pass through the country’s main airport each year despite its capacity of only eight million.
He stated that a new terminal is ready for operation and urged greater involvement from international carriers, as well as increased flight frequency, to help stabilise the market and reduce airfare volatility.
The Adviser also made an emotional appeal to migrant workers, many of whom have been unable to return home for years due to high airfares and large debts accrued during relocation.
“It breaks my heart to watch our migrant workers, who have left their families behind for years to earn a living, unable to come home. They take out loans and can’t even afford to fly home to see their relatives. “This really hurts me,” he remarked.
He urged airlines to ensure affordability and justice for passengers, saying, “These really hard-working individuals barely get to breathe in their own nation. They work so hard, live away from family, and take out debts, and the way we treat them is profoundly disturbing.”
Flyadeal, a Saudia subsidiary, has begun two direct flights each week on the Jeddah-Dhaka-Jeddah route, with the goal of serving both migrant workers and Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. The airline has announced cheap rates, free in-flight meals, and increased baggage allowances.
Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdullah Zafar H Bin Aabiyan, flyadeal CEO Steven Greenway, and Avians Bangladesh Ltd Managing Director Imran Jahan all attended the opening event.
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