The government plans to operate international flights from Cox’s Bazar Airport starting in July. However, the new terminal being constructed for this purpose is incomplete. As a contingency, authorities are considering using the existing terminal to launch limited international operations. Domestic flights may be temporarily suspended, according to sources at the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) to facilitate this.
The initiative to upgrade Cox’s Bazar Airport to international standards began nearly a decade ago. The project’s vision is twofold: transforming the coastal town into a regional aviation hub and establishing a critical air route for emergency response during natural disasters. Several development efforts, including a major runway expansion project, are underway to achieve this.
Despite ongoing construction, the government recently announced its intention to inaugurate Cox’s Bazar as an international airport from July 2025.
The CAAB chairman chaired a meeting on April 21 to assess the airport’s readiness. According to meeting documents, the new terminal is planned to be completed by the end of June. If the construction is not completed in time, authorities may temporarily suspend domestic operations and use the current terminal to handle limited international flights.
CAAB has confirmed that all necessary facilities — including immigration and customs services — are already in place. The agency has stated it will be fully prepared to operate short-haul international flights from Cox’s Bazar by July. National carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines has also been directed to begin preparations for international services from the airport.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Collected
