Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport remains unprepared for the challenges of winter fog, and passengers continue to suffer as a result.

Year after year, flight diversions disrupt schedules, causing frustration and financial losses.

The solution is clear: upgrading the airport's Instrument Landing System (ILS) from Category 1 to Category 2.

Yet, despite repeated assurances from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), the necessary work remains incomplete.

During the winter months, low visibility forces flights to be diverted to airports in Sylhet, Chattogram, India, Bangkok, and even Malaysia. These diversions not only inconvenience passengers but also burden airlines with additional fuel costs, landing fees, and maintenance expenses.

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Dhaka airport still not fog-ready

The repeated take-offs and landings accelerate wear on aircraft engines, increasing operational costs. Passengers endure hours of uncertainty, and airlines struggle with financial losses.

A functioning ILS-2 would allow pilots to land with far greater precision in foggy conditions, significantly reducing the frequency of diversions. Yet, winter after winter, CAAB has failed to deliver on its promises.

The cost of inaction is mounting.

Aviation experts have repeatedly stressed that upgrading the system is essential. Some argue that even a Category 3 ILS, which allows landings in near-zero visibility, should be considered, as other major airports in the region have already implemented this technology.

While CAAB claims that most of the work is complete, the final step -- procuring an aircraft to test the system -- has been delayed. Open tenders have been issued multiple times, but no suitable aircraft has been secured.

This raises serious questions about the efficiency of project execution. If a single missing component is all that prevents the system from becoming operational, why has CAAB not explored alternative solutions more aggressively? The lack of urgency suggests either administrative inefficiency or a failure to grasp the severity of the situation.

Every winter, passengers pay the price for these delays.

Airlines, too, are feeling the strain. US-Bangla Airlines alone has spent around Tk 6 crore this season due to flight diversions. The problem extends beyond financial losses -- delays and cancellations erode public confidence in air travel, affecting the country's reputation in the aviation sector.

A modern, functional airport should not be crippled by seasonal fog.

It is unacceptable that CAAB has failed to complete a critical upgrade that could have been implemented years ago. If Kolkata and other regional airports can operate with an advanced ILS, there is no reason why Dhaka should lag behind.

Without immediate action, the same disruptions will continue next winter, adding to the long list of broken promises.

The authorities must prioritise this issue with the urgency it deserves. Passengers and airlines cannot afford another season of preventable chaos.