MD defends Biman's ground handling capacity 

Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and CEO Shafiul Azim has defended the national flag carrier's ground handling capacity at Dhaka airport's third terminal, against talks of a foreign company receiving its contract.

"How do we know that others are taking away the terminal's ground handling from Biman," he raised the issue while speaking at a press conference on Sunday at the Biman office at Kurmitola, Dhaka.

"Where is our capacity lacking? With the third terminal, our capacity will, in fact, increase," he said.

He also said many modern equipment is in the pipeline and Biman is preparing for procurement by expending crores of taka.

So, it is contradictory that Biman does not have the capacity while we are taking more preparations, he added.

Ground handling is a major source of income for Biman as it earns around Tk1,500 crore yearly.

It has been reported in several media outlets that a Japanese company is likely to get the contract for operating the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, which includes ground and cargo handling.

The Japanese company has already submitted a proposal in this regard and a meeting was recently held at the Prime Minister's Office to discuss this.

Biman has about 3,500 personnel and about 1,500 devices of 119 categories for ground handling, Shafiul Azim said.

"Now, baggage becomes available within 18 to 20 minutes of a plane landing," he added.

On the ground handling issue, earlier in September last year, State Minister for Civil Aviation Mahbub Ali said, "There will be an open competition. If Biman can win the competition by maintaining international standards, it can get the job. If Biman can't, then those who are capable will do it."

The civil aviation authority expects that the third terminal can be inaugurated within the October 2023 deadline.  

At the press conference, Biman MD also spoke about the company's fleet expansion plan, new routes, hajj flights, and new earning sources.

He also gave a positive indication about the launch of Biman's flights to New York. "There will be something positive about the flight by the end of the year."

Furthermore, Biman is in talks with Indonesia for help in ending the pilot crisis, he added.

Regarding Airbus' offer to sell aircrafts to Biman, he said that "it proves that they have confidence in us."