Cox’s Bazar Airport’s newly built terminal and extended runway mark a genuine turning point for tourism and regional connectivity. But infrastructure alone does not create international connectivity. As trial operations move toward planned international flights, the real challenge is no longer construction. It is building the commercial, regulatory, operational and institutional system that makes an airport work.
Geographically, Cox’s Bazar can connect Nepal, Bhutan, India and the wider South and Southeast Asian region. Yet airlines will not come merely because a runway exists. They need viable routes, bilateral air service agreements, available slots, competitive landing and parking charges, reasonable jet fuel prices and credible incentives. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and the government should define a clear market-entry strategy: target carriers, routes, incentives and a phased launch. Early routes—subject to demand and reciprocity—might include Kolkata, Kathmandu, Paro, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
Operational readiness must be assessed before launch, not after. Immigration, customs, baggage, ground handling, security and enough skilled staff for round-the-clock operations must be capable of handling international traffic. Technical readiness—navigation aids, lighting, firefighting and cargo—also matters. Trial operations should be a stress test: identify every gap, assign responsibility to the relevant agency, and resolve it before services begin.
Institutional coordination is equally critical. CAAB, customs, immigration, tourism and law-enforcement agencies need one operating framework. A task force with clear responsibilities and deadlines should be formed immediately, led by CAAB. It should publish a public gap–action–deadline matrix and report progress regularly. Without accountability, coordination becomes delay.
Visitor experience matters. E-visa, visa-on-arrival, multilingual information, reliable transport and international-standard services are part of the airport’s capability. A visitor who cannot move or communicate easily will not return—or recommend the destination.
Most importantly, these gaps must not become prolonged delays. The infrastructure is now in place; the priority is coordinated, technically sound and time-bound implementation. Completion of infrastructure should mark the beginning of effective international operations—not the end of the process—and turn Cox’s Bazar into a reliable gateway for tourism and regional connectivity.
By Salam Abu
Editor
