Eid Travel Trends: Surge in Domestic Air Ticket Demand
With Eid approaching, an increasing number of passengers are opting for air travel alongside traditional road and water transport. Passenger trends indicate that the demand for tickets on flights to Saidpur, Jashore, and Rajshahi doubles ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, while ticket sales for Chattogram and Sylhet also see a notable rise compared to regular times. However, due to lower demand, pre-Eid flights to Cox’s Bazar have been reduced, whereas post-Eid demand surges three to four times, prompting airlines to increase flights on that route.
To accommodate the growing number of travelers and minimize inconvenience, both the national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and private airlines, US-Bangla, Novoair, and Air Astra, have introduced additional flights similar to last year.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Adds 13 Special Flights
On March 17, Biman Bangladesh Airlines announced 13 additional special flights on domestic routes for Eid-ul-Fitr. The airline currently operates a fleet of 21 aircraft, serving Chattogram, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, Jashore, Saidpur, Barishal, and Rajshahi.
The extra flights will operate between March 25 and 31, covering the following routes:
- Dhaka-Rajshahi-Dhaka: Six special flights from March 25 to 30
- Dhaka-Saidpur-Dhaka: Six special flights from March 26 to 31
- Dhaka-Barishal-Dhaka: One special flight on March 27
Biman’s General Manager of Public Relations, Bosra Islam, stated that passengers can purchase tickets from any Biman sales center, its official website, the Biman call center (13636), or authorized travel agencies.
Private Airlines Witness High Demand
US-Bangla Airlines, the largest private airline in the country, operates flights on seven domestic routes. Saidpur, Jashore, and Rajshahi tickets have been in high demand since the beginning of Ramadan, and the airline anticipates that all flights to these destinations will be sold out a week before Eid, according to General Manager (Public Relations) Md. Kamrul Islam.
Novoair, now in its 12th year of service, has also witnessed a surge in ticket demand for Saidpur, Jashore, and Rajshahi, said Head of Marketing & Sales, Mejbaul Islam. The airline has set up a dedicated hotline (13603) for customer service.
Meanwhile, Air Astra, the newest airline, primarily operates flights to Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, Sylhet, and Saidpur. Although flights to Sylhet are currently suspended, the airline expects increased demand on the Saidpur and Chattogram routes during Eid, according to Deputy Manager (Public Relations), Sakib Shuvo.
Air Astra will operate four daily flights to Chattogram and Saidpur during Eid. Flights to Cox’s Bazar will run three times daily until Eid, but will increase to five daily flights in the post-Eid holiday period. Passengers can book tickets through the airline’s website, mobile app, or by calling their hotline (13607) during office hours.
