Ctg chamber seeks 40% tariff cuts to turn airport into regional logistics hub

The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called on the government to introduce a 40% preferential tariff for international routes at Shah Amanat International Airport and establish a dedicated cargo village to transform Chattogram into a regional investment and logistics hub.

In a letter sent on Saturday (15 August) to Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, the business body emphasised that better utilisation of the airport's existing capacity would boost passenger and cargo handling, attract transit traffic, and reduce the country's heavy reliance on Dhaka-centric aviation. 

Chamber President Mohammad Amirul Haque noted that Chattogram holds significant potential to serve as an East-West aviation, tourism, and logistics bridging point.

The chamber highlighted that despite hosting the country's principal seaport, major export processing zones, special economic zones, and a vast industrial base, the full potential of Bangladesh's second-largest airport remains untapped.

Five-point proposal

To maximise the airport's potential, the chamber outlined five specific strategic interventions. These include operating Shah Amanat International Airport round the clock, introducing a 40% concessional tariff structure for international flights, and permitting passengers to board and disembark during long-haul stopovers.

Additionally, the business group urged the government to develop transit and refuelling infrastructure for long-haul carriers, alongside establishing a modern cargo village, inland container depot (ICD), and container freight station (CFS) near the facility.

The proposal suggested deploying public-private partnership (PPP), build-own-operate, or build-own-operate-transfer models for the infrastructure projects. Large tracts of available land in Patenga, adjacent to the airport, could be developed to serve both aviation and maritime cargo needs simultaneously, with private investors ready to participate.

Incentive model based on port precedent

Arguing that an incentive-based fee structure is vital to attract international airlines, the chamber cited the government's existing policy of reduced tariffs at Mongla Port as a successful model for boosting asset utilisation.

The chamber stressed that a similar concessional fee framework at Shah Amanat International Airport would generate broader economic activity and support national development targets, including the goal of building a $1 trillion economy by 2034.