Cox's Bazar Airport Explained

Cox's Bazar International Airport
Nativename:কক্সবাজার আন্তর্জাতিক বিমানবন্দর
Iata:CXB
Icao:VGCB
Type:Public
Owner:People's Republic of Bangladesh
Operator:Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh
City-Served:Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
Elevation-F:12
Elevation-M:4
Pushpin Map:Bangladesh
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Bangladesh
Pushpin Label:CXB
Pushpin Label Position:right
R1-Number:17/35
R1-Length-F:10700
R1-Length-M:3200
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:August 2022
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:42,091
Stat2-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat3-Header:Cargo tonnage
Footnotes:Source:[1]

Cox's Bazar International Airport is an international airport in the resort town of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. It is in the process of being upgraded to an international airport. The airport serves the residents of Cox's Bazar as well as tourists to the region.[2] Cox's Bazar Airport is undergoing massive expansion, which is due to be completed by 2023.[3]

History

During World War II, the British Raj established an airfield near Cox's Bazar. It was converted into a domestic airport by the central government of Pakistan in 1956, seven years after the city was incorporated into the Pakistani province of East Bengal (later East Pakistan).[4] The airport was damaged during the Bangladesh Liberation War and was renovated and reopened in 1972.[5] According to civil aviation sources, in 2009 the government had planned to rapidly modernize the airport to accommodate fighter jets, if required.[6]

Expansion and development

Since 2012, plans to upgrade and expand the airport to allow international arrivals have been under way.[7] [8] Once completed, it will be the fourth international airport in Bangladesh.[9] The two phases of upgrading will let the airport provide better facilities for parking, landing, and take-off for wide-body aircraft such as the B777 or the A330. The first phase of the upgrade cost .[10]

Under the first phase in 2012, the runway was lengthened from 6,775 feet to 9,000 feet and widened from 120 feet to .[11] The runway's load capability was strengthened and the runway lighting also received an upgrade. Equipment such as instrument landing system, distance measuring equipment, AMeDAS, and VOR was installed.[12] Aircraft Refueling (JET A-1) facilities were available from February 2017 by Standard Asiatic Oil Company Limited, an enterprise of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation.[13]

Under the second phase, the runway is being expanded by an additional 1,700 feet from its current by reclaiming land from the sea. An approximately 1,300-foot stretch of the runway's expanded portion would be over the sea.[14]

Airlines and destinations

Cargo

Incidents and accidents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bangladesh Air Traffic Movement: Passenger: Aerodrome: Cox's Bazar . 10 January 2020.
  2. News: Biman to launch Sylhet-Cox's Bazar flight from Nov 12 . 7 January 2021 . Dhaka Tribune . 10 November 2020.
  3. News: Abdul Aziz . Runway project to transform Cox’s Bazar into aviation hub . www.dhakatribune.com . 5 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230312103933/https://www.dhakatribune.com/development/2022/03/31/coxs-bazar-maritime-runway-construction-on-track-despite-challenges . 12 March 2023 . en.
  4. Web site: সাগরজলে দেশের দীর্ঘতম রানওয়ে চালু হচ্ছে ডিসেম্বরে. bn. Sunil. Barua. 3 August 2023. 25 August 2023. Banglanews24.com.
  5. News: ২০২৪ সালের জুনে আন্তর্জাতিক ফ্লাইট ওঠানামা করবে কক্সবাজার বিমানবন্দরে. bn. 7 August 2023. 25 August 2023. Cox's Bangla.
  6. Web site: PM wants fighter base at Cox's Bazar: report. 2 October 2014. 6 September 2009.
  7. News: 'Cox's Bazar Airport to be made international one'. The Daily Star. 3 April 2012. 11 April 2012.
  8. News: Cox's Bazar International airport to be upgraded: Minister. The Daily Star. 26 March 2012. 11 April 2012.
  9. News: Expansion work of Cox's Bazar International airport to start this year: Minister. The Financial Express . Dhaka . 25 March 2012. 11 April 2012.
  10. News: Steps taken to upgrade Cox's Bazar International Airport. The News Today. 25 April 2012. 11 April 2012. 29 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202438/http://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=2310773&date=2012-04-25. dead.
  11. Web site: 2021-08-27 . PM to open Cox’s Bazar Airport runway expansion project Sunday . 2023-04-13 . The Business Standard . en.
  12. News: $200m Chinese loan for Cox's Bazar International Airport dev. The Financial Express . Dhaka . 26 October 2012. 11 April 2012.
  13. News: Aircraft Refueling Facilities at Cox's Bazar Airport .
  14. Web site: 2021-08-27 . PM to open Cox’s Bazar Airport runway expansion project Sunday . 2023-04-13 . The Business Standard . en.
  15. News: Russian pilot dead as cargo plane crashes into sea in Bangladesh . https://web.archive.org/web/20160310112558/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-03/09/c_135171092.htm . dead . 10 March 2016 . Xinhua . 9 March 2016 . 2020-01-25.