Cox’s Bazar airport has failed to launch its first international flight as scheduled on Sunday due to the lack of final approval from the government.
According to officials, Biman Bangladesh Airlines – the national flag carrier – had planned to operate a weekly flight on the Cox’s Bazar-Kolkata-Dhaka route.
Boshra Islam, public relations officer at Biman, said, “We have not yet been informed of the official date for Cox’s Bazar airport’s graduation to international status. Therefore, we are unable to put Kolkata route tickets on sale.”
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has said it had sought government approval.
Air Commodore Abu Sayeed Mehboob Khan, member (Operations and Planning) of the CAAB, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “We have already sent a letter to the government requesting the upgradation of the airport to international status and expected approval by 5 October. We are hopeful of receiving the green light from the chief adviser’s office soon.”
He further explained that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had been notified of the plan to upgrade Cox’s Bazar Airport.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines will manage the operational logistics for international flights from the airport.
Golam Mortuza Hossain, direct at the airport, mentioned that customs and immigration facilities are operational. The arrival section of the new terminal has been partially opened, but local passengers are still exiting through the old terminal building.
Mohammad Yunus Bhuiyan, project director of the terminal and runway expansion, said that 83% of the new terminal’s construction is complete.
“Work is ongoing to install tiles, electrical wiring, and air conditioning, with the aim to complete the terminal by December,” he said.
The project, worth Tk362 crore, is being implemented by China Railway First Group and National Development Engineering Limited.
The installation of glass panels on the exterior is progressing rapidly, and work on the boarding bridges and car park facilities is also nearing completion.
Progress on the runway expansion project, crucial for international flights and valued at Tk 1,794 crore, is being jointly carried out by China’s CYDWB and CECE.
The runway expansion is scheduled to be completed by December 2026.
According to the Cox’s Bazar district government website, the airport’s runway has currently been expanded from 6,790 feet to 9,000 feet and will be widened from 150 feet to 200 feet.
The runway’s load capability will also be strengthened for wide-body operations, while the runway lighting will be upgraded.
A total of 10,912.49 square feet of building and 49,753 square feet of connecting taxiway will be constructed before the airport’s graduation to international status.
