The government has taken an initiative to develop Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram into a regional aviation hub by 2035, with an estimated investment of around $300 million to expand infrastructure, cargo handling and international air connectivity.
The project aims to establish direct air links between Chattogram, the country's commercial capital, and destinations across South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and China, capitalizing on the city's strategic location, seaport and special economic zones.
The proposed Chittagong Regional Air Hub Project will expand the airport's runway from its current 2,940 metres to 3,600 metres in phases, strengthen the runway and construct a parallel taxiway and a rapid-exit taxiway.
According to a Preliminary Development Project Proposal (PDPP), drafted jointly by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the plan also includes 11 parking stands for narrow-body aircraft and eight for wide-body aircraft.
Annual passenger-handling capacity is expected to increase from five million to between eight million and 10 million. The number of boarding bridges will rise from two to six, including four designed for wide-body aircraft.
The upgrades are expected to enable the airport to handle aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and 787 and the Airbus A330 and A350.
The first, or "quick-win", phase will focus on upgrading infrastructure to accommodate wide-body aircraft and handle transit passengers and cargo. A dedicated transit centre, estimated to cost $10 million, and a new cargo village will also be developed.
The first phase of cargo infrastructure will have a handling capacity of 75,000 to 100,000 tonnes annually, supported by cold-chain facilities and bonded warehouses.
Of the estimated $300 million project cost, the government will provide $75 million, while the Economic Relations Division (ERD) has requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide a loan or financial assistance of around $175 million.
The remaining $30 million to $50 million could be arranged through a public-private partnership to develop hotels, shopping malls, commercial spaces and other service-oriented facilities near the airport.
The project is expected to strengthen trade and investment by improving access to regional markets, including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, China, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman.
The cargo facilities could support direct exports of perishable agricultural products, frozen foods and pharmaceuticals, while reducing travel time for investors and entrepreneurs.
Better connectivity could also make it easier for foreign buyers in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector to visit Chattogram and reduce the cost of importing garment-industry raw materials directly from China.
Mohammad Amirul Haque, president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCC&I), told BSS that the chamber had submitted a proposal outlining a development roadmap to Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.
"Given its geographical location, Chattogram should have become an aviation hub for this region much earlier. It is unfortunate that this has not yet happened," he said, adding that the government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, took steps to address the demand of the hour.
Calling the initiative historic, Amirul Haque said its swift implementation would transform local trade and business and inject new momentum into the national economy.
He also highlighted the growing presence of Chinese investors and personnel in the economic zones of Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, saying the lack of direct air connectivity created difficulties for both sides.
Md Asif Chowdhury, president of the Chittagong Aviation Club, said infrastructure development must be accompanied by competitive services, including cargo facilities, check-in counters, boarding bridges, baggage belts and quality passenger lounges.
He said the airport, which currently operates from 6:00 am to midnight, should become operational round the clock. Competitive landing charges, aviation fuel prices aligned with international rates, and effective marketing and branding would also be necessary to attract international airlines, particularly from East Asia.
Group Captain Nur Hossain, director of the airport, told BSS that airlines needed access to hotel, refuelling and maintenance facilities to use the airport as a hub and attract transit traffic.
He said the airport had the infrastructure to accommodate additional flights, including two to three cargo flights a week, but airlines needed to come forward with viable commercial plans.
As an initial step, he suggested prioritising technical stopover services, including aircraft refuelling, catering and rest facilities for flight crews, while expanding passenger demand and supporting infrastructure.
Despite its international designation, Shah Amanat International Airport has largely served routes to the Middle East, with direct services to China, Thailand and Singapore discontinued over infrastructure and operational constraints. Consequently, many travellers and exporters from Chattogram rely on Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport or international transit hubs.
The airport handled 977,000 international passengers in 2023, while the figure remained around one million in 2025, underscoring the need to expand its role in regional aviation.