Govt Preparing to Inaugurate Cox’s Bazar International Airport in November

The government is preparing to inaugurate Cox’s Bazar International Airport in November this year. Once operational, the airport will allow foreign tourists to travel directly to Cox’s Bazar from different parts of the world.

To achieve this goal, the government is exploring the possibility of establishing direct air links with China, Malaysia, Thailand and Dubai, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said. He disclosed the plans at a meeting held at the conference room of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism at the Secretariat on Monday (October 12).

The minister said the airport would play an important role in developing Cox’s Bazar into an international-standard tourist destination. It would enable domestic and foreign tourists to visit the coastal town directly from different parts of the world.

Regarding potential international routes, Mr. Millat said there was an opportunity to establish direct flights between Cox’s Bazar and Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan province. As Yunnan is a landlocked province, the Cox’s Bazar–Kunming route could offer good prospects for China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.

He added that AirAsia was working towards launching direct flights between Cox’s Bazar and Penang, Malaysia. The minister also welcomed flydubai’s interest in operating flights on the Cox’s Bazar–Bangkok–Dubai route. The government is also considering offering financial incentives to the airlines concerned to encourage the launch of new routes, he said.

The meeting discussed infrastructure development at the newly built airport and the requirements for operating international flights. Country managers of several domestic and foreign airlines shared their views on launching direct services. Earlier, during a press briefing with journalists, the minister discussed disruptions to international air travel caused by attacks in Riyadh.

He said the situation had temporarily disrupted air travel not only in Bangladesh but also across the world. The cancellation of 10 flights had affected the travel plans of more than 3,400 passengers. The minister said the relevant officials had been instructed to take necessary steps to reduce passenger suffering. Describing the situation as a global crisis, he expressed hope that it could be overcome with everyone’s cooperation.

The meeting was chaired by Secretary Fahmida Akhter. Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Chairman Air Vice Marshal Md Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Kaiser Sohel Ahmed, and representatives of the ministry and domestic and foreign airlines also attended.