Same Distance, Different Price: Why Are Dhaka Flights So Expensive?
Two flights covering similar distances can come with very different price tags. Bangladesh's parliamentary committee is questioning why flying internationally from Dhaka costs so much more.
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In a Nutshell
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings, chaired by Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, questioned why international airfares from Dhaka are comparatively high.
- The committee highlighted that a Dhaka to Kuala Lumpur ticket costs several times more than a Kuala Lumpur to Manila ticket, despite the routes covering roughly similar distances.
- The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) confirmed that it has no policy governing international airfares, leaving airlines to determine their own prices.
- The committee suggested examining the possibility of introducing guidelines for international fare-setting.
- Beyond airfare concerns, the committee questioned Biman Bangladesh Airlines over Tk 7.36 billion in irregularities involving chartered cargo flights and revenue collection, as well as 18 outstanding audit objections.
Context
The discussion took place during a parliamentary committee meeting on 2 November 2026, which reviewed the financial management and operations of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and CAAB.
The issue of expensive airfares is particularly significant in Bangladesh, where international travel is essential for migrant workers, students, businesspeople and families travelling abroad. High ticket prices can place additional financial pressure on people who depend on international air connections.
Why It Matters
International airfares are more than just a travel expense. For thousands of Bangladeshi migrant workers, they are part of the cost of securing employment overseas. Students and families travelling abroad also bear the financial burden of expensive tickets. The absence of a clear regulatory framework raises questions about how airlines determine their fares and what safeguards passengers have against excessive pricing. While introducing guidelines may improve oversight, affordable air travel also depends on healthy competition, reasonable operating costs and an efficient aviation sector. The committee's wider concerns about Biman Bangladesh Airlines' financial management and operational weaknesses further highlight the need for accountability across the country's aviation institutions.
What We Think
Questioning high airfares is an important starting point, but understanding what drives these prices matters more than simply introducing another policy. Bangladesh needs an aviation sector that offers passengers fairer fares while maintaining service quality and financial sustainability. Fare regulation alone will not address deeper issues such as limited competition, rising operational costs and institutional inefficiency. The government's response needs to look beyond ticket prices and consider the structural problems within the aviation sector. For a country heavily dependent on overseas employment and international mobility, affordable air travel is an economic necessity, not merely a matter of convenience.