Bilal9
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Is there any particular reason why they didn't extend the runway from the other side? I checked on google maps and there is more than 3000ft available for extension of the runway.
Also it's strange that the government is spending so much in a relatively low traffic airport and just 100km away from a major airport.
Good point. For everyone's benefit let me state the reasons for extending CXB runway into the water:
a) The feasibility report provided by the consultant.
b) Aircraft at CXB typically climb out over the ocean and also lands on an approach from the ocean side. Just like any other beach-adjacent airports.
c) Extending runway also depends on the existing runway direction.
d) The water depth on beach end is rather shallow in any case and is feasible. Such beach airports exist everywhere.
e) Probably the lowest cost option and finally, most importantly,
f) The landside territory may also be unavailable.
Traffic at CXB (due to tourism) is projected to increase if larger capacity aircraft are allowed to land, due to runway length extension. B773 and B748 aircraft cannot land at CXB at this time.
There is also significant cargo/logistics potential as there is a huge deep sea container port and large powerplant being built a few KM's North of the airport. The area will see significant growth in real estate and commerce activity due to the deep seas port, besides tourism.
Chittagong which is a major city with humongous amount of export trade logistics and manufacturing activity (100 KM North of CXB) is already more than halfway air traffic saturated, well served and has quite high land prices, so little scope there for expansion due to geographic limitation. Chittagong may also have problems with runway extension beyond a certain length as there are rivers/sea-beaches on both sides of the runway.
By the way, CXB will be one of the first regional airports in Bangladesh to have a 10,700 ft. runway. Dhaka does have a 11,500 ft. single runway now (very well served and traffic saturated) but the regional airports (Sylhet and Chittagong among others) have shorter runways (under 9600 ft.) even though they serve 777-300 sometimes.
So - the govt. has plans to upgrade runways and VOR/DME facilities for Sylhet and Chittagong at least in the short term, to 10,700 feet, as well as conduct Terminal capacity expansion at Sylhet which is ongoing at this time. Dhaka Airport is currently building a third terminal but there will be a replacement airport completed outside Dhaka within a decade which will have at least two 12,500 ft. runways. That airport is in feasibility/design stage.
Here is final form of Sylhet Airport as designed by Heerim Korea
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