International Airlines are Showing Interest in Shah Amanat Airport

Foreign airlines are displaying increasing interest in Shah Amanat International Airport. Saudi Airlines has scheduled flights from Chittagong next March. Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines have reportedly also shown interest in operating flights in the near future.

Shah Amanat International Airport, the second largest airport in the country, has been transformed by the touch of development.

The old image of Shah Amanat has changed due to development projects worth Hundreds of Millions of Taka including the runway extension, and modern security system. Currently, the airport has been open for 24 hours on a trial basis. Since the touch of modernity, the interest of foreign airlines in Shah Amanat has also increased. Taslim Ahmed, the Director Wing Commander of Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport, said, “Shah Amanat International Airport has added modern facilities.”

Major foreign airlines are showing interest in flight operations after the runway expansion and addition of other facilities. It is known that Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport has been put into operation for 24 hours on a trial basis since a month ago due to the addition of modern facilities including the runway. The runway extension work is almost complete.

540 crore 52 lakh taka will be handed over to the authorities after the lighting work of this project is completed. Construction of boarding bridges, lifts, connecting corridors and departure lounges is underway to enhance passenger and cargo security measures to international standards and increase terminal facilities. It will be completed within the next six months, said the concerned officials. Installation of state-of-the-art EDS (Explosive Detection System) and baggage handling system associated with EDS is in progress at the Cargo Village. According to Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority sources, Chittagong is the second largest airport in the country after Dhaka.

The pressure of passengers is always increasing at this airport. As a result, the amount of revenue has also increased. Shah Amanat International Airport earned a record Tk 200 crore in the last financial year. It was 106 crores in the previous financial year. However, in the financial year 2015-16, the income of Shah Amanat was Tk 86 crore.