Leading Arab carrier Emirates will reduce airfares by at least 15 per cent in March to lure Bangladeshi travellers to the recession-hit Dubai, its Bangladesh chief said Monday.
Hanif Zakaria, area manager of Emirates, said the Dubai-based airline will also offer reduced fares for Bangladeshi travellers bound for major North American and European cities, including London, New York and Paris.
"People love to fly Emirates. This has given us an added advantage (over others)," Mr Zakaria told a press conference in the city.
"From time to time Emirates introduces exclusive offers for its valued customers. For this campaign we have ensured that the cities considered for the special fares represent some of the favourite destinations among Bangladeshi travellers," Mr Zakaria added.
He said he is upbeat that the special offer would draw the much-needed enthusiasm among travellers.
But he denied that the discount would launch fare war on the lucrative Dubai route.
The announcement comes a month after Emirates' expansion to Bangladesh and coincided with the upcoming Travel Mart, an annual travel fair.
The airline's area head said it would offer a 10 per cent cut in business class fares and reduce 15 per cent in ticket prices of the economy class.
Emirates will also offer special fares to 19 other destinations, he said, adding these tickets should be purchased between March 12 and 23.
The cities include Dubai, Cairo, Seychelles, Mauritius, Karachi, Colombo, Istanbul, Munich, Rome, Frankfurt, Milan, London, Paris, Manchester, Zurich, Larnaca, New York, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne.
Last month, the Dubai carrier increased its flight frequency by three to 17 a week, apparently to cash in on the withdrawal of British Airways in March from the Bangladesh market.
Mr Zakaria said the expansion plan was mooted at a time when oil prices exploded to a record level of US$147 a barrel.
He called the move "a game of risks," saying that game is a blessings in disguise in view of the British Airways withdrawal from the Bangladesh market this month.
He said Emirates has no intention to ignite fare war on the route traditionally dominated by the Dubai carrier and state airline Biman.
"What's the cost of flying a passenger in just a little over four hours? If anyone cuts fares, he will shoot himself on his leg," he added. "We're playing an important role in Bangladesh. But we're also a commercial airline."
Emirates Holidays, the tour operating arm of Emirates, also unveiled "attractive" offers to Dubai, Cairo, Mauritius and Seychelles, which are considered the most favoured holiday destinations for Bangladeshi travellers.
