Biman seeks ground handling partner

Bangladesh's national flag carrier is looking for foreign partners to run ground handling services at the country's three international airports.

The Biman Bangladesh Airlines will soon seek Request For Proposal (RFP) from foreign ground handling agents for the purpose, said its acting Managing Director Capt Mosaddique Ahmed.

"Decision on whether Biman will go for a joint venture will be taken later," he told bdnews24.com.

At present, Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport daily handles around 50 flights of four local carriers and around 100 international flights of 25 carriers from 18 countries.

Most international airports appoint more than one agent for ground handling to ensure quality services.

However, in Bangladesh, only Biman is tasked with the services.

But foreign airlines have been demanding recruiting more than one handling agents as Biman reportedly lacks trained manpower and modern equipment needed for the task.

The demand gained momentum after last year's strike by Biman employees during which ground operations at Shahjalal airport were literally put on halt for nearly five hours.

At that time, the civil aviation authorities wrote to the ministry for appointing an alternative handling agent.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Biman official told bdnews24.com: "Biman does not have any equipment as a ground handler.

"The number of airlines has increased over the past five years but neither Biman's manpower nor its equipment were upgraded."

In 2012-13 fiscal year, the national flag carrier earned around Tk 5 billion alone from ground handling sector.

An independent company for ground handling, on which Biman would not have direct control, was planned in 2006. But, it did not get final approval.

The official said if ground handling was done on a joint venture basis, the foreign company would invest quite a bit to improve service qualities.

It means, the foreign company will share the profits.

And here's the problem. Biman employees fear many of them will lose jobs if the company's most profitable sector goes for joint venture.

CBA chief of Biman, Moshiqur Rahman, is against any such move.

He said the national flag carrier had not been able to make profit from operating flights.

" Its employees are paid with the money earned from ground handling," Rahman said. "Most of them will lose their jobs as they are employed on a daily-basis contract."

Biman acting MD Ahmed said they would decide on joint venture when it would serve the carrier's interest.

"We have not reached that stage yet. We'll scrutinise the proposals before deciding whether to go for it," he said.

Aviation expert Kazi Wahedul Alam believes including a foreign partner in ground handling will be a positive move.

He said other countries employ more than one agents which lead to competition and better customer services.

"This is an age of professionalism. It can't be that I'll pay for services but won't get any.

"I think, it'll be really good if Biman decides [to go for joint ventures]," he said.