No bulk ticket hoarding at Biman, says CEO amid allegations against airlines
There is currently no advance seat booking or ticket blocking at Biman, he says
No tickets have been hoarded by Biman Bangladesh, the national flag carrier said today (29 January) amid allegations against domestic airlines of hoarding around 60,000 bulk tickets through collusion with travel agents.
"There is currently no advance seat booking or ticket blocking at Biman," Biman Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Md Safiqur Rahman said during a courtesy meeting with the Executive Committee of the Aviation and Tourism Journalist Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) at Biman's Balaka office.
"Any individuals found involved in ticketing fraud are removed from their respective departments as soon as information is received," he added.
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The MD said he personally monitors this issue. "There were complaints in the past, and those responsible were removed from ticketing duties and reassigned to other departments."
Earlier on 26 January, ATAB alleged that around 60,000 bulk tickets were hoarded through collusion between airlines and travel agents, alongside a reduction of approximately 52 flights per week, which are the key factors behind the recent surge in airfares.
"Foreign airlines such as Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Jazeera Air, Oman Air, and Saudi Airlines, which previously operated 98 flights weekly on Middle Eastern routes, have now reduced their operations to 46 flights. Flynas has also suspended five weekly flights," ATAB said.
Regarding baggage management at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), the Biman MD said efforts are being made to improve baggage handling. Whenever complaints arise about baggage, immediate action is taken. However, there are some infrastructural limitations.
He hopes that with the opening of the third terminal at HSIA, baggage management will improve further.
"To ensure transparency in baggage management, airline staff are equipped with body-worn cameras. They wear the cameras when entering their duty for baggage handling and return them when their shift is over."
Additionally, 150 new cameras have been purchased to enhance surveillance, he said.
