The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has announced that limited-scale international flights are expected to start operating from Cox’s Bazar Airport mid-October.
The update came from CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq on Sunday after inspecting the airport’s ongoing development works.
“We inspected the progress of the second terminal and the extended runway into the sea today. Based on the progress, it seems possible to begin partial international operations from mid-October,” Siddiq said.
He noted that while it is difficult to specify the percentage of work completed, preparations are nearing final stages to allow flight operations to begin on schedule.
Cox’s Bazar Airport Project Director Mohammad Yunus Bhuiyan, Airport Manager Golam Mortuza Hasan, and other officials were present during the inspection.
Earlier, CAAB had announced plans to start international flights by the end of July this year.
Under the development project, the runway has been extended from 9,000 feet to 10,700 feet, with 1,300 feet stretching into the sea.
This is the first time in Bangladesh’s history that a runway has been built using block construction into the water. The project, costing Tk1,794 crore, is being fully funded by CAAB.
