Cox’s Bazar airport has begun trial operations from its newly built international terminal, marking a major step in Bangladesh’s plan to expand air connectivity to the country’s leading tourist destination.

The first domestic flight to operate from the new terminal departed at 8:50am on Monday, carrying around 70 passengers. The flight was operated by US-Bangla Airlines.

Although the terminal has been designed to handle international passengers, domestic flight operations have been shifted there ahead of its formal inauguration, which is expected in October.

The new terminal features four immigration counters for departing international passengers and six for arrivals. It also has two baggage belts, modern security screening facilities, CCTV surveillance, flight information displays, check-in counters, conveyor belts, lifts, escalators, duty-free shops and boarding bridges.

Airport authorities said the terminal has 14 check-in counters, which airlines will share according to their operational requirements.

Golam Mortoza Hossain, director of Cox’s Bazar airport, said all domestic airlines operating from the airport had been instructed to move their passenger-handling operations to the new terminal from September 28.

“This is the first phase of operations from the new terminal. The necessary preparations have been completed by the airport departments and airlines,” he said.

US-Bangla Airlines official Musa Ahmed said the airline operated the first flight from the new facility on Monday.

Passengers using the terminal on its first day welcomed the improved facilities, while airlines said the upgraded infrastructure would make passenger handling more efficient.

The new terminal is part of a wider project to transform Cox’s Bazar airport into an international aviation gateway.

The Tk18.68 billion ($155 million) airport development project began in August 2021. It includes construction of the new terminal and expansion of the airport’s runway, along with other infrastructure upgrades.

One of the key components is a 1,700-foot extension of the runway towards the sea. The extension will increase the runway length from 9,000 feet to 10,700 feet, allowing larger aircraft to operate from the airport.

The expanded runway is also expected to become fully operational in October.

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmood Siddiq said last week that preparations had been completed to shift domestic passenger operations to the new terminal.

“After the domestic operations, we will inaugurate international operations from this airport next month,” he said during an inspection of the terminal.

The development is expected to strengthen Cox’s Bazar’s air links with both domestic and international destinations. Authorities and tourism-sector stakeholders also expect direct international flights to make it easier for foreign visitors to reach the coastal resort city, potentially boosting tourism and related businesses.

Cox’s Bazar is home to one of the world's longest natural sea beaches and is one of Bangladesh’s most important tourism centres. The airport upgrade is part of broader efforts to improve infrastructure and connectivity in the region.

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