Cox’s Bazar Correspondent:
The government has declared Cox’s Bazar Domestic Airport as an international airport and announced plans to launch international flights from October 2. However, some key construction work at the terminal building remains incomplete, raising doubts about whether flights will start on schedule.
According to available information, the passenger arrival and departure lounges, departure conveyor belt, and immigration counters are still under construction. While the runway is fully ready, these remaining works may take around two more months to complete, officials say. Preparations by airlines and finalization of flight slots are also still pending.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) claims that all remaining work will be completed by September 28. Letters have been sent to the country’s two leading private airlines—Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines—along with foreign carriers, requesting them to submit their flight plans.
CAAB Member (Operations & Planning) Air Commodore Abu Sayeed Mahbub Khan said, “We will be ready within the scheduled time. ICAO has been officially informed, and we are now waiting for responses from the airlines.”
Experts believe that once international flights are launched, the number of foreign tourists visiting Cox’s Bazar—the city with the world’s longest sea beach—will increase significantly. This is expected to boost hotels, resorts, transportation, international conferences, corporate events, and create new opportunities for the local economy and employment.
It is worth noting that development work on Cox’s Bazar Airport began between 2009 and 2013, and in 2015, plans were added to upgrade it to international standards. Leveraging its strategic location, the government aims to develop the airport not only as a tourism hub but also as a regional hub and refueling point.