Cox’s Bazar Classification Cancelled: Government Suspends ‘International Airport’ Status

The government has suspended the gazette notification that had earlier declared Cox’s Bazar Airport as an “international airport.” As a result, international flights from Cox’s Bazar will not commence for now. A new notification reversing the earlier declaration is expected to be issued on Sunday by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines had been preparing to launch flights from Cox’s Bazar to Kolkata via Dhaka this month. However, the suspension of the airport’s international status has now halted those plans.

Air Commodore Md. Nur-E-Azam, President of the Cox’s Bazar Airport International Flight Operation Committee and Director of the airport, confirmed the development to journalists on Friday, October 24.

An official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), requesting anonymity, said, “The decision was made as certain infrastructural and administrative preparations are yet to be completed.”

Earlier, on October 12, the ministry had declared Cox’s Bazar Airport an international airport. The suspension of that declaration came just 11 days later. Reportedly, the Chief Adviser issued a verbal directive on Thursday to postpone the gazette, prompting the ministry to prepare a new order expected to be released on Sunday.

During his visit to inspect the airport’s construction on March 14 this year, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus was informed that once operational, the international airport would handle 40 to 50 aircraft movements per day. Following that, the government declared the airport “international” in early October—but has now reversed the decision within days.

Sources further revealed that even after receiving the “international” status, no domestic or foreign airlines expressed interest in operating international routes from Cox’s Bazar. While Chattogram and Sylhet currently serve Middle Eastern and UK-bound flights, airlines reportedly consider routes from Cox’s Bazar commercially unviable at this stage.