NN ONLINE:
Just two months after the Flight Expert scandal, another online travel agency, Fly Far International, has allegedly shut down and disappeared after taking significant advance payments from hundreds of customers.
Customers and users of Fly Far reported technical problems on Wednesday, October 15, making it impossible to check air-ticket prices or complete bookings on the company’s website. In the wake of these issues, many took to social media to claim they had been defrauded.
The company’s office, located on the second floor of Ka-9/A, Haji Abdul Latif Mansion, Bashundhara Residential Road in the capital, was found closed when customers visited later that day.
In an interview with travel blogger Travel with Rajesh, one customer said, “I deposited Tk 54 lakh with the company, but I am now unable to contact anyone.” Allegations from customers suggest Fly Far Int’l lured them with exceptionally low discounts on air tickets, hotel bookings, and international travel packages for the upcoming holiday season, collecting large sums in advance.
Kamrul Islam, a spokesperson for US-Bangla Airlines, told The Business Standard, “Before purchasing a ticket from any online travel agency, an advance deposit must be made with us. Therefore, no customer is at risk of losing money directly with us.” He added that while end customers may be harmed when an online travel agency disappears, travel agents or sub-agents who have deposited funds could also suffer losses.
Industry observers note that such incidents are not new. The Flight Expert scam in August was preceded by similar cases involving companies such as 24Ticket.com and FlightBooking.com.
The recurring incidents have raised questions about regulatory oversight of online travel agencies. Abdus Salam Aref, former president of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), said, “After the recent Flight Expert incident, we hoped the government would take effective steps to regulate online travel agencies. But no action is visible yet.”
Numerous customers have continued to share allegations on social media, claiming they were defrauded by Fly Far International. They described being lured with attractive offers on air tickets, hotel bookings, and travel packages, with millions of taka collected in advance. The office for Fly Far International was found closed on Wednesday, and the website and phone lines were inaccessible, leaving many aggrieved clients unable to obtain tickets or confirmation documents ahead of the holiday season. Since Tuesday, the firm’s office had been closed, and the inability to reach the company compounded concerns of a potential scam.
