Government is working to transform the Cox's Bazar airport into international by 2018, Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon said today.

Claiming that the Bangladesh airlines industry is a profitable institution, the minister said the government is planning to increase its international routes.

"Talks of expanding the routes to Japan and Canada are underway," he added while addressing a "Meet the Press" programme at Sagor-Runi auditorium organized by Dhaka Reporters Unity around 11:00am today.

Meanwhile, Menon also mentioned that the government has primarily chosen at least four places in the south western part of Padma to build the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib International Airport, which is to be the largest airport in Bangladesh.

On the tourism sector, he said, "The sector is not doing so well, but the government is working hard in this regard."