Caab rushes to open airport’s 3rd terminal by February amid delay in operator deal

Highlights:

• Caab pushes to open HSIA's 3rd terminal before election
• Deal with Japanese consortium stalled over revenue sharing
• Agreement expected within a month
• Equipment warranties already expiring
• Trial runs underway; Biman flight tested facilities
• 6,000 staff needed, including 4,000 for security
• Biman to manage services for two years
• HSIA capacity to triple, reaching 24m passengers yearly

Facing delays in launching the much-anticipated Dhaka Airport's 3rd terminal, the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (Caab) is now pushing to open it by next February, likely before the general election, though the operations and maintenance contract with a Japanese consortium is yet to be finalised.

According to Caab sources, although many issues have been settled, revenue-sharing terms with the foreign consortium remain unresolved, delaying the deal signing.

"We aim to open the terminal before the national election in February, which is possible if all goes well," a Caab member, speaking anonymously, told TBS. 

"An understanding may be reached within the next week, with deal signing expected within a month. Once the agreement is signed, it is possible to begin operations by February," he added.

Soft-launched in October 2023, the 3rd terminal's full operations, promised by December 2024, have been delayed due to various reasons, including frequent project leadership changes, import delays for terminal materials and last August's political changes.

Selected by the previous government, the consortium of Japan Airport Terminal Company, Sumitomo, Sojitz, and Narita International Airport Corporation will manage the terminal under a public-private partnership. 

While Biman Bangladesh Airlines will manage ground services for two years under the consortium's supervision, with a separate agreement, data security stays with Caab.

Meanwhile, concerns have arisen as warranties on some equipment and machinery have expired or are about to expire, prompting efforts to open the terminal quickly to prevent financial losses, said the Caab member.

Once the terminal is fully operational, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport's annual passenger and cargo handling capacity is expected to triple and double, respectively.

The airport's annual passenger handling capacity is expected to reach 24 million (including the two existing terminals) once the third terminal is fully open. Currently, the airport can handle eight million passengers and 250,000 tonnes of cargo per year.

After missing the December 2024 deadline, authorities set a new target of December 2025 to launch the third terminal, as 99.88% of construction was already completed.

However, the new Caab chairman, Air Vice Marshal Mostafa Mahmud Siddiq, could not provide a specific opening date during a briefing on 7 August, but he mentioned that efforts are underway to make the terminal fully operational very soon. 

On 4 August, a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight became the first aircraft to use the passenger boarding bridge (PBB) and visual docking guidance system (VDGS) at the third terminal.

Biman said this marked an important step forward in operational readiness and the enhanced service capabilities of the terminal.

Dhaka airport sources also said that various experimental services, such as boarding bridge operations, are already underway at the third terminal.

Around 6,000 personnel, including 4,000 for security, need to be deployed in four shifts to operate the terminal round-the-clock.

Caab Chairman Mostofa said, "At this moment, the biggest challenge is to bring the third terminal into operation. Since joining, I have held several meetings with all stakeholders. My main goal is to make the terminal operational while safeguarding everyone's interests. We are working with urgency to open it as soon as possible."