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Despite having insufficient preparations, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has set the 2nd day of next month as a fresh deadline for commencement of international flights at Cox's Bazar Airport.
The CAAB issued an Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) on August 7 this year as per rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), announcing that Cox's Bazar Airport would officially be designated as an International Airport from October 02.
According to the AIP notification, after getting the elevated status, the airport will be officially named as 'Cox's Bazar International Airport'. The Airport's ICAO location indicator is VGCB.
Earlier, the CAAB was to declare the airport open for international flights from July this year, but it missed the deadline.
Although a fresh date has been announced for the commencement, some preparations still remain incomplete, informed circles have said.
Group Captain Md Noor-e-Alam, Member (ATM) of the CAAB, told The Financial Express that the Cox's Bazar Airport has not yet received the certification on its readiness for international flight operations.
"The Flight Standards and Regulations (FSR) department of CAAB is currently working to obtain the certification of international status. A team of international inspectors has already assessed the airport and made nine observations," he said.
The CAAB is now making necessary preparations in line with such observations, Mr. Noor-e-Alam added.
However, the construction works of the new terminal building at the airport are unlikely to be completed before October, sources said.
Md Younus Bhuiyan, Project Director of the International Terminal Building, told the FE that the construction works could take until December this year to complete.
According to the airport officials, since the existing terminal building has a limited capacity, the authorities find themselves in a difficult situation to provide services to the domestic air-passengers.
They further said passengers' turnout would increase after the launch of international flights. Besides, some other required facilities including Customs and Immigration have to be ensured to provide services to the international passengers, they said, adding that there is not enough space to accommodate their offices in the existing terminal building.
According to Mr. Noor-e-Alam, the CAAB wants to kick-start operation of international flight, using the existing domestic terminal along with the ready spaces of partially completed new terminal building.
Meanwhile, regardless of its ongoing preparations, the CAAB on August 11 last issued letters to two domestic airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines, seeking information as to whether they have plans to operate international flights from Cox's Bazar Airport to various destinations.
The CAAB has also held meetings with officials from other international airlines operating in Bangladesh, sources said, adding that many of them observed that they would inspect the airport after it receives international certification.
Given the authorities' inadequate preparations, the announcement on the commencement of international flights is considered a significant milestone for the country's aviation sector and tourism industry, according to sources.
The launch of direct international flights to Cox's Bazar, home to the world's longest natural sea beach, is expected to help boost foreign tourists in the country.
It is expected to give an impetus to the local hotels, resorts, transportation, and hospitality sectors in Cox's Bazar and its surrounding areas, thus contributing to the country's economic development, they observed.
After its commencement, the airport will be Bangladesh's fourth international gateway.
Biman Bangladesh Airline, the sole ground handler of the country's airports, has already been instructed to take preparations for handling international flights at the airport, according to officials.
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