The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has decided to conduct a feasibility study for the resumption of commercial services at Ishwardi Airport.
According to CAAB sources, the government has a plan to modernize all commercial and international airports of the country. As part of the plan, CAAB will repair and renovate Ishwardi Airport at a cost of around Tk1 crore.
Stakeholders and Industry insiders said the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and Ishwardi EPZ have opened up new business opportunities for Ishwardi Airport. Citizens of various countries as well as domestic and foreign buyers will get significant benefits if the airport begins offering commercial services again.
The tourist city of Cox's Bazar will be connected by air with Ishwardi, Pabna, Kushtia, Natore and Sirajganj, which will boost the aviation and tourism sector and add revenue to the national treasury.
According to CAAB documents, the British colonial government constructed Ishwardi Airport during World War II and it was initially known as the HIJLI Base Area. The airport was used by the Twentieth Air Force.
In 1962, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operated the first passenger flight from the airport. After the liberation of Bangladesh, Biman Bangladesh Airlines operated its regular flights to and from the airport till 1989.
In 2013, United Airways resumed flights to the airport, but they were suspended again in 2014.
At present, passenger flights are suspended at Ishwardi Airport but it is used by the Bangladesh Air Force, Navy, Army, and helicopters, including light aircraft of various organizations.
According to CAAB’s primary survey report, a total of 436.65 acres of land were acquired for Ishwardi Airport. Of this, 145.91 acres of land include the airport's terminal building, runway, taxiway, apron, navigation and communication equipment, officers' quarters and access road under CAAB supervision.
The remaining 290.74 acres of land are being looked after by the Bangladesh Army.
Domestic air operators said airlines will be able to operate flights and make revenue by using short-haul aircraft like ATR 72-600 if the authorities extend the runway by 500 metres.
They also said the resumption of commercial services at the airport would be hugely beneficial as there is significant passenger demand in the area.
