The interim government has fast-tracked plans to elevate Cox’s Bazar Airport to international status by July, directing all relevant agencies to coordinate the launch of overseas operations as part of a broader ambition to establish the airport as a regional hub for air traffic and refueling in South Asia.
Following the directions, the aviation apex body, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), held a coordination meeting on Wednesday with customs, immigration, ground handlers, and other stakeholders to ensure operational readiness using the existing terminal facilities. Officials have tentatively scheduled the inauguration of international services for the last week of July.
According to sources familiar with the meeting’s checklist, authorities are working to complete the new international terminal building within July. However, if the construction is not finished on time, the plan is to temporarily suspend some domestic operations and operate limited international flights from the existing domestic terminal building.
According to the plan, international flights will be operated from the current terminal building for now. For this, approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is currently pending.
Meeting sources also confirmed that approximately 85% of the overall development work at the airport has already been completed.
According to the project profile, under the Cox’s Bazar Airport Development Project (Phase 1), the runway has been widened from 127 feet to 200 feet and extended from 6,775 feet to 9,000 feet. A separate project is underway to expand the runway to 10,700 feet further, extending it toward the sea, which will enable the safe operation of wide-body aircraft at full capacity.
A new apron has been constructed, and a 17,955-square-metre international terminal building is nearing completion to handle increased passenger volume and aircraft traffic.
Additionally, an international consultancy has been appointed to conduct a detailed feasibility
study for a comprehensive transformation of the facility. Planned additions include a modern passenger terminal, a cargo complex, a parallel taxiway, an expanded apron, and a dedicated refueling system.
However, as part of the government’s effort to elevate Cox’s Bazar Airport to full international status, major infrastructural upgrades have already been completed, though several critical components are still being implemented.
Recently completed works include the extension of the runway from 6,775 feet to 9,000 feet, significantly improving its capacity to handle larger aircraft. The runway has also been widened and upgraded with a higher Pavement Classification Number (PCN), enabling it to support heavier loads and wide-body aircraft operations.
The project director, Yunus Bhuiyan, said the extension will enable the safe takeoff and landing of fully loaded wide-body jets.
Additionally, authorities are installing an Airfield Ground Lighting System (AGL) to facilitate night and low-visibility operations, and are procuring firefighting vehicles to meet international safety standards.
The installation of advanced navigational and operational technologies, including the Instrument Landing System (ILS), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), Doppler VHF Omni-Range (DVOR), Flight Information Display System (FIDS), and Public Address (PA) systems, is also in progress.
Meanwhile, the new international terminal building—spanning nearly 18,000 square meters—is under construction and nearing completion, aiming to significantly expand passenger handling capacity and streamline airport operations to meet international demands.
Once operational, authorities expect Cox’s Bazar Airport will serve as a key regional gateway, boosting both tourism and connectivity while establishing Bangladesh as a more prominent player in South Asia’s aviation sector.
At present, a total of 19 domestic flights are operated daily on the Dhaka–Cox’s Bazar route. Of these, Biman Bangladesh Airlines operates four, US-Bangla Airlines runs seven, Novoair flies three, and Air Astra operates five.
However, the Middle East-based airline, Air Arabia is planning to operate at least one weekly international flight initially from Cox’s Bazar. Currently, the airline operates four weekly flights between Dhaka and Sharjah, and two between Chattogram and Sharjah.
A senior official from Air Arabia, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dhaka Tribune that the airline is eager to operate the first international flight out of Cox’s Bazar.
Project Director Yunus Bhuiyan confirmed that the runway is ready for international operations. “We are technically ready to begin flights using the current domestic terminal,”
he said. International operators have already been advised to make the necessary adjustments in their ground handling services.
Airport Director Golam Mortoza Hossain said the chief adviser recently inspected the site and instructed all work be completed within July to allow full-scale international operations. “All stakeholders are working to meet the deadline,” he said.
CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Monjur Kabir Bhuiyan recently said that the authority plans to formally announce the launch of international operations in July.
“We will hold discussions with all interested airlines and finalize the flight schedule by the last week of July,” he said.
