The Bangladesh government has announced to slash annual airport surcharge rates on airlines from 72 percent to about 14.25 percent, days after Aviation Express highlighted how punitive charges were crippling private carriers.

According to a gazette notification, issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism in November last but circulated this week, the revised surcharge framework will apply to airlines operating at eight airports across the country, significantly easing financial pressure on domestic carriers.

The move follows Aviation Express’s insight story—“10+ Private Airlines Collapse—Who’s to Blame?”—which documented how Bangladesh’s private aviation sector has steadily contracted under crushing surcharges, soaring fuel costs, and a rigid regulatory environment. 

The report argued that excessive penalties had turned overdue bills into unpayable liabilities, accelerating airline failures.

Industry insiders said the decision comes at a critical juncture, with at least three local airlines suspending operations in recent years largely due to mounting debt fuelled by accumulated surcharge penalties. While the cuts may not immediately reduce airfares, they expect improved financial stability to strengthen competition and service quality over time.

Managing Director of Novoair and General Secretary of the Airlines Operators Association of Bangladesh (AOAB), Mofizur Rahman, termed the decision a “big relief” for the sector. Speaking to Aviation Express, he said the revised rates would ease financial strain on airlines and help them focus on service improvement, ultimately benefiting passengers, even if the relief is not applied retroactively.

Under the amended rules, no surcharge will be imposed if outstanding bills are cleared within 30 days. A 1 percent surcharge will apply for delays of 31–60 days, rising to 1.25 percent for 61–120 days. If dues remain unpaid beyond 120 days, a 6 percent surcharge will be levied for every subsequent 120 days or part thereof.

Previously, airlines were charged a 6 percent monthly surcharge under the Civil Aviation Rules, 1984—amounting to penalties equivalent to 72 percent annually—often making recovery financially impossible.

US-Bangla Airlines spokesperson Md Kamrul Islam told Aviation Express that the revised regime would substantially reduce payment pressure on carriers.

He said the earlier surcharge structure posed sustainability risks even for financially compliant airlines, pushing several out of operation. “If airlines can survive and remain financially stable, the ultimate beneficiaries will be passengers,” he added.

Kamrul also pointed to structural disadvantages faced by local airlines, which must keep aircraft parked in Dhaka around the clock, increasing exposure to airport charges, unlike foreign carriers that typically operate single rotations and depart within hours.

Government officials noted that Bangladesh’s previous surcharge rates were far higher than regional benchmarks, ranging from 12 to 18 percent in India, 10 percent in Oman, 8 percent in Singapore, and about 2 percent in Pakistan, adding that the revised framework would bring the country’s airport charging system closer to regional norms.

Analysts see the decision as a policy correction long demanded by the industry and one that echoes the concerns raised in Aviation Express’s investigation into the collapse of Bangladesh’s private airlines.