Bangladesh Launches New Air Cargo Shipment Facility to Spain

After India’s cancellation of the use of its transshipment facilities for Bangladesh cargo, the Bangladesh government has taken swift action by launching a new air cargo shipment facility at Sylhet Airport in the northeast of the country. The first freighter flight, scheduled for 27th April, will carry 56 tonnes of garment products to Spain. This move aims to alleviate the growing pressure on Dhaka Airport, which has been struggling with operational inefficiencies, and offer a more cost-effective option for exporters.

Sylhet, strategically located in the north-east of Bangladesh, is expected to handle significant export volumes, particularly for garment shipments, which are a major export sector for the country. The new facility is expected to not only relieve congestion at Dhaka Airport but also bring down ground handling costs, which have been a concern for many businesses.

The government is also exploring the potential for air exports from Chittagong Airport, which could further reduce operational bottlenecks. Nasir Ahmed Khan, Director of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association (BFFA), emphasised that with improved cargo handling at Sylhet, the cost-effective airfreight options are expected to attract more exporters.

In addition, Dhaka’s third terminal is in development, and officials hope this will further streamline cargo handling and reduce costs. However, as one local forwarder noted, if carriers cannot increase capacity, air freight rates could rise sharply in the coming weeks.