Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, formerly known simply as Dacca International Airport and Zia International Airport, is the largest airport in Bangladesh with close to 6 million passengers, accounting for over 60% of passenger movements in the country.
The airport is the base for the national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines which flies from Dhaka to around 20 international destinations. Dhaka is also well served by foreign airlines: several airlines fly to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Kolkata and many Middle Eastern airlines fly to Dhaka as well.
Most flights from Shahjalal International Airport are to Dubai and to Kuala Lumpur but there are many more flights to other destinations as well, most of them by Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Every day there are flights to 20 destinations from Shahjalal International Airport. Here are the most popular destinations:
The airport was built in the 1980s after Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan. It has undergone several upgrades and extensions since then and it now consists of three terminals, T1 and T2 are for international flights while T3 (often called Domestic Terminal) is for domestic flights only. A third international terminal and a second runway are being considered.
The airport is inside the Dhaka city limits, about 15 km north of the old city center at Motijheel.
The Dhaka Airport used to be well outside the city but development has engulfed the airport which means your hotel is probably not that far away. Public transport is very limited though and the normally ubiquitous rickshaws and auto rickshaws are not allowed to pick up passengers at the airport.
This leaves you with taxis. A taxi from the airport to the city can cost up to 1500 taka but you can also walk outside to the main road on the side of the Domestic terminal where you can find a taxi for around 800 taka or baby taxi (motorized rickshaw) for 350 taka. Be aware though their English is very limited and unless you speak a bit Bengali or have a written down address it is probably better to get a pre-paid taxi at the booth in the arrival hall.
All prices quoted here were found in July 2017
