The government plans to develop Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram into a regional aviation hub under a fast-track project aimed at improving air connectivity with South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and China.
The project, expected to be implemented over 18 months, will focus on expanding airport infrastructure, boosting cargo-handling capacity and introducing international transit facilities, sources said.
Once the project is implemented, it would open up new eastward and westward air routes for Chattogram, airport officials said.
According to sources, the estimated cost of the proposed project ranges between $280m and $300m, with the government seeking financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The project includes runway expansion, parking facility for wide-body aircraft, a new cargo village, cold-chain and bonded warehouses, and a regional passenger transit terminal.
The Economic Relations Division (ERD) has sought ADB support and requested that the proposed 'Chittagong Regional Air Hub Project' be included under the bank's Integrated Growth Network Development initiative.
A Preliminary Development Project Proposal (PDPP), outlining the airport's infrastructure and operational constraints, has already been prepared and sent to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) for necessary administrative action, sources said.
Airport officials said the initiative could open up new eastward and westward air routes for Chattogram, expanding its access to international destinations and connecting passengers to global markets.
Currently, the airport operates only a limited number of international flights, mainly serving the Middle East. Flights from Chattogram to Kolkata and other destinations in India have also remained suspended since 2024, according to the sources.
The airport, however, has the potential to serve routes to China, Singapore and Thailand. Flights to some of these destinations operated in the past, enabling passengers to connect to other international destinations.
To revive the airport's role in regional aviation, the government is prioritising cargo-handling capacity and other infrastructure improvements in the project's first phase, described in the draft PDPP as the "Quick-Win Phase".
The phase aims to establish a regional hub capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft, transit passengers and increased cargo volumes.
The first phase is expected to require about $250m in public investment. Of the amount, the government is seeking $175m in loans or assistance from development partners, including the ADB, while the government and CAAB would provide the remaining $75m.
Also, there are plans to mobilise another $30m to $50m in investment through a public-private partnership (PPP) to develop commercial and hospitality facilities. The investment could be structured through long-term agreements spanning 20 to 25 years, sources said.
Runway, terminal expansion planned
Shah Amanat International Airport currently has a 2,940-metre runway, two boarding bridges and 11 parking stands for narrow-body aircraft. Its annual cargo-handling capacity is around 40,000 tonnes.
Under the proposed plan, the runway will be strengthened, while a full-length parallel taxiway and a rapid-exit taxiway will be constructed. The runway is also expected to be extended to 3,600 metres in phases.
The project will add parking stands for six to eight wide-body aircraft, allowing larger planes such as the Boeing 777 and 787 and the Airbus A330 and A350 to operate at the airport.
The estimated cost of upgrading airside infrastructure is around $115m.
Another $43m is earmarked for expanding the passenger terminal and improving boarding facilities, including around $25m for expanding and reconfiguring the terminal building.
Following the expansion, the airport's annual passenger-handling capacity is projected to rise from 5m to between 8m and 10m.
Four new boarding bridges will also be installed, taking the total to six. At least four will be capable of serving wide-body aircraft.
The plan also includes construction of a regional passenger transit centre, estimated to cost around $10m. It will have separate security arrangements, immigration counters and a transit lounge, alongside facilities for passengers transferring between international flights.
Financial Mirror/AH
