Boeing provides CAAB with technical support for HSIA category-1 upgradation

Dhaka : A visiting two-member Boeing team on June 4 started consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh to provide them with technical assistance to face a coming audit in connection with upgrading Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital to category-1 status from current category-2 by the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States of America.

Earlier, on May 10, the US aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing held a press conference in the capital. At the event, a delegation of Boeing led by its Managing Director, Commercial Marketing for Asia Pacific and India, David Schulte, mentioned that the planemaking company is indeed working with the relevant authorities in Bangladesh to facilitate the upgradation of Dhaka Airport to category-1. 

Category-1 is mandatory for Bangladesh to resume Dhaka-New York direct flights which remain suspended since the last two decades.

On June 4, the Boeing team from Seattle sat with Air Commodore Shah Kawsar Ahmed Choudhury, Member (Flight Standard and Regulations), and other officials of CAAB. Such meetings will continue throughout the week.

Reports said CAAB had already signed a memorandum of understanding with the FAA of the US Department of Transportation in October 2022 to speed up technical assistance online before an in-person audit in coming months.

Reports also cited a CAAB official saying that at a meeting, CAAB wanted a timeframe from Boeing on how Bangladesh could get the category-1 status.