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Travel agencies in Bangladesh are facing a sharp downturn as the ongoing Middle East conflict disrupts international air travel, particularly on routes linking Bangladesh with Gulf destinations.

Industry operators say the crisis has severely affected airline operations, migrant movement, pilgrimage travel and tourism bookings—key revenue sources for agencies.

“It has become extremely difficult to manage our office expenses as business has dropped sharply amid the ongoing Middle East war,” said a former president of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh.

Flights to major Middle Eastern hubs—including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha and Kuwait—have largely been suspended, with seven to eight airlines halting operations on these routes.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, a total of 694 flights had been cancelled on these routes as of March 17. With an average of 300 passengers per flight, around 208,000 travellers are now stranded in Bangladesh.

The impact on travel agencies has been severe, as nearly 70 per cent of their ticketing business depends on Middle Eastern destinations.

Migrants bound for countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman are cancelling or rescheduling trips unpredictably, deepening the business slump.

Limited flights to Saudi Arabia—mainly Jeddah and Medina—remain operational, allowing some Umrah pilgrims to travel. However, uncertainty and safety concerns have led many to cancel bookings.

The crisis has also left many Bangladeshi pilgrims stranded abroad. Travellers who flew with airlines that have suspended operations are struggling to return home.

“Many passengers are unable to return through their original airlines as flights remain suspended,” said a leader of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh.

Travel agencies are also under pressure from customers seeking updates, but airlines have yet to provide clear timelines for resuming services.

“We are in regular contact with passengers, but we cannot give accurate information because airlines themselves are uncertain,” an industry insider said.

The disruption has complicated ticket management, with many passengers holding return tickets booked months in advance. Rescheduling remains uncertain, and fares for new bookings are expected to rise.

Industry insiders warn that once flights resume, a surge in demand could trigger ticket shortages and sharp fare hikes.

To manage the situation, stakeholders are calling for government intervention to ensure transparency in ticket pricing and distribution, prevent artificial shortages and consider expanding flight capacity—even allowing foreign carriers under an open-sky arrangement to help clear the backlog of passengers.