Dhaka : The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has cancelled the registration of 13 travel agencies for their involvement in abnormal airfare pricing and black market sales under the guise of group ticketing.

According to a circular issued recently, the decision follows findings of a probe committee formed to investigate allegations of malpractice in air ticket sales. Separate orders have been issued to revoke the licenses of the agencies.

The cancelled agencies are: Kazi Air International Pvt Ltd, Siticom International Travel Agency Pvt Ltd, RBC International, Megha International Air Service, Mother Love Air Service, J S Travel and Tours, Hashem Air International, Four Trip Ltd, King Air Aviation, Biplob International Travel Agent, Sadia Travels, At-Taiyara Travels International, and N M S S International.

The investigation found that these agencies had blocked tickets on high-demand routes under the pretext of group bookings and later sold them at inflated prices through WhatsApp groups and sub-agents.