Aviation Sector Struggles with Rising Costs, Policy Pressures: Industry Calls for Unified Action

The country’s aviation industry is currently going through a challenging period, said Anjan Chowdhury, President of the Aviation Operators Association of Bangladesh (AOAB). The Managing Director of Square Air called for all stakeholders to work together in unity to address the ongoing crisis.

He made the remarks on 11 April, Saturday, at the organization’s 13th Annual General Meeting held at Samson Center in Mohakhali, Dhaka. He noted that the aviation sector is under pressure due to rising fuel prices, increasing operational costs, and policy complexities.

Also present at the annual general meeting were AOAB Vice Chairman and US-Bangla Airlines’ Abdullah Al Mamun; AOAB Secretary General and Novoair Managing Director Mofizur Rahman; Impress Aviation Managing Director Zed Mahmud Mamun; Blue Flying Academy Chairman Abdullah Al Jahir Swapan; Bangla International Airlines’ Rakibul Kabir; Meghna Aviation’s Tanvir Mostafa; Chief Operating Officer Anwarul Haque Sardar; and Bashundhara Airways Chief Operating Officer A S M Mustafizul Haque, among others.

At the meeting, AOAB Secretary General and Novoair Managing Director Mofizur Rahman said that the abnormal increase in jet fuel prices, high hangar rent, customs complexities, and various high-rate fees have created a significant crisis for entrepreneurs. He also urged the government and relevant stakeholders to reconsider certain provisions of the Travel Agency Act.

Other speakers at the meeting sought sincere cooperation from private airlines, the Ministry of Finance, Civil Aviation, and other relevant agencies to sustain the aviation industry. At the same time, they expressed gratitude to the government and policymakers for taking initiatives to reconsider some important provisions of the Bangladesh Travel Agency Act published in the Bangladesh Gazette.

DBTech/EKT/EK/OR