Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal Intl Airport (DAC) Flights & Information

Dhaka is a bustling megacity home to more than 10 million people. Its airport, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC), stays abuzz with activity no matter the time of day or night. The airport offers a wide range of connections to various destinations in Asia and the Middle East, including direct links to Europe through the Bangladeshi national carrier.

Preparation tips

Given the size of this city, it’s not uncommon for travel times between the airport and the city to be on the longer side. And with the slow pace of road traffic, journey times are more often measured in hours than in minutes. This is one airport where I suggest you give yourself plenty of time.

Above all, I first recommend making hard copies of your airline tickets, hotel reservations and any letters of invitation, as well as any relevant documents pertaining to the booking of your trip. Believe me, they will be essential.

It’s important to note that there are references to Terminal 1 and 2 at DAC, but both facilities are located within the same building. Terminal 1 is designated for passengers arriving at the airport, while Terminal 2 is designated for passengers departing from the airport.

There is a separate domestic terminal and an innovative new terminal building is under construction, promising to transform the travel experience for passengers. I have been traveling through DAC at least once a year for the past decade or so, and it is clear that the new terminal infrastructure is long overdue.

Arriving at the airport

Before arriving at the airport, if you think you might need to use the restroom after landing, I recommend using the facilities on the aircraft instead of waiting until after you get off.

Passengers who need to obtain their visa upon arrival should make their way to the designated desk located within the immigration hall. It’s important to carefully review the entry requirements and pay attention to the details. Make sure to have printed copies of your travel plans, with your return ticket being particularly crucial. Additionally, I suggest having the exact amount of cash ready to make the process much smoother.

DAC is known for its long lines, especially during peak times when multiple flights from the Middle East arrive in quick succession after sunrise. Passengers often have to wait in line for a considerable amount of time to go through immigration and collect their checked baggage. I recommend keeping this in mind before making any further travel arrangements.

At this airport, customs officials have a more hands-on approach than you may be accustomed to when it comes to handling inbound luggage. It’s important to stay calm and cooperate with the officials as much as possible. Your progress should not be significantly affected.

Arriving in the city

It’s important to ensure smooth transportation from the airport, and proper preparation will greatly facilitate this process. If you are planning to stay in a hotel in Dhaka, I strongly recommend contacting your hotel in advance and requesting a driver to be arranged at the terminal to assist you upon your arrival.

The chaos outside the terminal, with people scrambling to secure a taxi or a tuk-tuk, can be quite overwhelming, especially after a tiring journey. This will provide a much more comfortable experience, as hotel shuttle vehicles typically park in a dedicated lot that can be accessed through a quiet side entrance in the terminal.

Using pre-arranged transportation has an added advantage – several local hotels have arrival kiosks in the arrivals hall. These kiosks are easily visible as you exit the customs area, providing a recognizable meeting point. This helps alleviate the common anxiety that comes with arriving at a new airport.

Rideshare at DAC

Although it may seem like a pricier choice, the convenience of not having to deal with the challenges of negotiating transportation in the hot and humid weather of Dhaka will be welcome. The extra cost is well worth it.

Using rideshare apps in Dhaka can be convenient. However, navigating the busy meet and greet area to find your driver might pose a challenge if you’re not familiar with the airport layout. It might be a good idea to consider this option for your journey back to the airport instead.

It’s worth noting that credit cards are commonly accepted with these apps, but it’s advisable to have some local currency on hand before departing the airport. Cash is still widely preferred in this country.

Getting to the airport

When it’s time to depart from DAC, the process of reaching the terminal can be quite slow due to additional security checks conducted at the airport’s perimeter. It is crucial to allocate ample time for this task.

At these checkpoints, vehicles may undergo searches and travel documentation may be checked, so I recommend arriving early. Although electronic documents may be accepted, it is advisable to err on the side of caution and have physical copies of your tickets available.

The chaos outside the terminal building is truly something that needs to be witnessed during peak hours. Lines to enter can be quite lengthy, but sometimes they can seem even longer thanks to the crowds of people gathering around the entrances to the terminal to say their goodbyes to loved ones.

It’s important to carefully observe the queue at the entrance of the terminal to determine who is actually waiting and who may not be. Sometimes, there may be more well-wishers than passengers, making it a quicker option to enter the terminal.

Within the international terminal itself, the dining and shopping choices are quite limited, and there aren’t many attractions in the check-in hall, except for a few restaurants and coffee shops. It’s better just to go through the check-in process and complete the immigration procedures sooner rather than later.

Practical aspects of security

Although passengers are required to go through a security check upon entering the terminal, they will encounter an even more comprehensive security check before entering the gate area.

The lines at this gate checkpoint can be quite lengthy, as each gate only has one security line. As a result, for flights operated by a wide body aircraft with hundreds of passengers, it can be time-consuming to navigate through this obstacle. Therefore, I advise arriving at the gate earlier than you might normally do elsewhere. In addition, priority access for travelers flying in premium cabins is not always guaranteed.

The waiting areas within the gates are quite basic and do not have restroom facilities, so it’s important to keep this in mind as well. Given the limited options for duty-free or retail shopping in the terminal, choosing to wait in the gate area instead of wandering the airport doesn’t result in missing out on much. Instead, it can often mean spending less time in line.

Wi-Fi and lounge options

Currently, there is no Wi-Fi available in the terminal. However, the airport has a decent mobile signal, allowing you to stay connected using mobile data if needed.

There are lounges available on the second floor of the departures area, and you can gain access to them with a lounge membership. The Skylounge is widely regarded as the most popular. Wi-Fi access is available in these lounges, so I recommend taking a moment to stop by if you want to send any messages or emails before your flight.

There’s a reasonable variety of food and beverage options in the lounges. The Skylounge lounge is relatively small and can become crowded, but it may still be a preferable option for waiting compared to the gate area. If the lounge happens to be full, there are alternatives nearby that are reasonable, too.

Even if you are not a member of a lounge access program, the cost of paying for access if not expensive compared to many airports and I suggest considering paying for access if you have time to spare before your flight.