Dhaka airport passengers grow despite strained services, capacity gaps

Highlights:

• Passenger numbers rose to 12.72 million, driven by international travel
• Airport operates near double capacity; third terminal still unopened
• Migrant workers face high airfares amid persistent seat scarcity
• Traffic congestion, poor signage cause delays before terminal entry
• Fog, downgraded ILS trigger delays, diversions, trolley shortages
• E-gates largely idle due to software and visa checks

Passenger traffic through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport continued to grow in 2025, even as overstretched infrastructure, service shortcomings and high airfares left travellers grappling with mounting difficulties.

The airport handled 12.72 million passengers in 2025, up from 12.5 million in 2024 and 11.7 million in 2023, according to airport data. The increase of around 2,23,000 passengers, or nearly 1.8%, was driven mainly by international travel, with Bangladesh sending 1.13 million workers abroad during the year.

Of the total passengers last year, 10.312 million travelled on international routes, while 2.411 million flew domestically, underlining the airport's heavy dependence on overseas traffic.

However, the steady growth has further exposed long-standing infrastructure limitations. Originally designed to handle around 8 million passengers annually, the airport is now operating at nearly double its intended capacity. 

Officials acknowledge that the rising passenger load is placing immense pressure on operations, particularly during peak travel seasons.

Infograph: tBS

Despite repeated assurances, the much-anticipated third terminal remains non-operational due to unresolved issues over the appointment of an operator. The civil aviation ministry has left the matter to the next elected government. 

Once fully operational, the terminal is expected to increase capacity to over 20 million passengers a year and significantly improve passenger flow and service delivery. Until then, congestion remains a daily reality.

In the early days of the interim government, Expatriate Welfare Adviser Asif Nazrul announced VIP services for migrant workers. In practice, this has largely been limited to opening two lounges – one inside the terminal offering rest areas and subsidised meals, and another in the multi-storey car park.

Progresses

Despite these difficulties, some improvements have been noted by Tasneem Siddiqui, acting executive director of the Refugee and Migratory Movement Research Unit (RMMRU). 

She said harassment of migrant workers at airports has declined somewhat in 2025 compared to previous years. She attributed the improvement to the round-the-clock presence of magistrates, a hotline for complaints and the introduction of body cameras for baggage handlers.

"These initiatives have brought positive change, particularly in passenger movement and baggage retrieval," she said, while stressing that reducing travel costs and ensuring dignity for migrant workers should remain priorities. "There is still a lot of work to be done."

Civil Aviation Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin did not respond to repeated attempts by TBS to contact him. 

Airport Executive Director Group Captain Ragib Samad said authorities are trying to provide the best possible services within existing capacity, describing problems such as traffic congestion and the trolley crisis as temporary. He expressed hope that the third terminal would resolve many of the current challenges.

Airfares remain high

Despite government directives aimed at curbing ticket prices, airfares remain prohibitively high. Travel agents report that tickets to Middle Eastern destinations have surged from Tk35,000-40,000 to as high as Tk75,000-80,000.

Mahmudul Haque Piaru, a local travel agent, criticised the implementation of government measures, noting that a persistent seat scarcity remains the "core problem." With foreign carriers controlling 66% of the international market, experts argue that strengthening Biman Bangladesh Airlines is essential to restoring price stability.

Didarul Haque, another travel agent, echoed similar concerns. He said while some irregularities had declined due to restrictions on block and group tickets, the core problem of seat scarcity remains unresolved.

Congestion and confusion

Passenger suffering often begins before entering the terminal. Long traffic tailbacks at airport entry points have become routine, with outbound passengers frequently missing check-in deadlines due to severe congestion.

Travellers also complain about inadequate directional signage, leading some to mistakenly enter arrival or domestic terminals while searching for international departures, further aggravating traffic chaos.

Airport authorities attribute much of the congestion to stringent security checks at driveways and canopy areas. Officials also cite the prolonged construction of an underpass near the Hajj Camp, a project ongoing for nearly two years and is expected to take at least another year to complete.

Ragib Samad said the rigorous screening is "extremely urgent" to ensure safety at the airport's driveways and canopy areas.

Trolley shortages and flight disruptions

Inside the terminal, passengers face persistent trolley shortages, particularly during winter. International travellers have reported waiting up to two hours for a luggage trolley.

Airport authorities deny an actual shortage, explaining that winter fog disrupts flight schedules, causing 13 to 15 international flights to land almost simultaneously in the early morning. With only eight baggage belts at Dhaka airport, this results in severe congestion and delays in trolley turnover.

Congestion has been compounded by the downgrade of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) following damage to runway lights on 29 October. The airport is currently operating under ILS Category I, requiring a minimum visibility of 1,200 metres, compared with 500–750 metres under Category II.

Dense winter fog has therefore led to frequent delays and diversions to Kolkata, Sylhet, or Chattogram. When weather conditions improve, returning flights often arrive at once, overwhelming terminal operations.

Idle e-gates

Meanwhile, 44 e-gates installed at Dhaka and Chattogram airports at a cost of Tk34.55 crore remain largely unused. Immigration officials say passengers using the e-gates must still return to manual counters for visa verification, negating any time savings. Software integration problems have forced authorities to keep most of the gates closed.