Govt to formulate new policy for selling air ticket

DHAKA: The government is going to formulate a new policy for selling air ticket keeping up the existing commission system.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry sources said a five-member committee has already been formed led by additional secretary of the ministry Sarder Abul Kalam in this regard.

Other members of the committee are ATAB President Mohaimin Saleh, representative of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, representative of Civil Aviation Transport Authority and a deputy secretary of the ministry.

All the members of Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) will get commission on the sold ticket under the policy.

Abu Dhabi based airlines Emirates and Etihad recently declared of withdrawing commission on selling tickets.

After the declaration, ATAB members declared not to sell tickets of the two airlines from March 1.

Later, Emirates and Etihad declared to reinstate commission on ticket sale following a court verdict.

In 2008, British Airways withdrew commission on ticket sale. The British company wrapped up business and left the country on March 28 in 2009.

The ATAB members get seven percent commission on selling tickets of the airlines. About 30 lakh people of the country travel abroad per year.

Emirates and Etihad sources said Bangladesh has no policy on taking commission on selling tickets. So, Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry declared to formulate the policy.

A member of the committee said, “They will formulate a policy within six months on the basis of opinions from different airlines, international air traffic association and ATAB.”

BDST: 1706 HRS, MAR 17, 2012

Edited by: Newsroom Editor Shahin Afroz/ Asst Output Editor M. Mahbub Alam