Concerns are increasing amongst airways and passengers over Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ ground dealing with products and companies, with consultants questioning its capability to regulate operations at the brand new third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal World Airport.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines claims to offer global popular ground dealing with products and companies, not handiest for its non-public flights but also for roughly 35 other domestic and global airways.
Nonetheless, consultants non-public raised doubts about its capability to address operations at the brand new third terminal.
What’s ground dealing with?
Ground dealing with refers to a unfold of products and companies offered to aircraft and passengers at airports, in conjunction with the issuing of boarding passes, baggage dealing with, cargo loading and unloading and popular aircraft servicing.
Since 1972, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has been the one real supplier of ground dealing with products and companies the least bit airports within the nation. Besides to its non-public flights, Biman provides ground dealing with products and companies to loads of foreign and native carriers.
Biman to take over third terminal ground dealing with
Biman Bangladesh Airlines used to be only within the near previous informed that it would be to blame for managing ground dealing with products and companies at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal World Airport for the next two years.
This resolution used to be communicated through a letter issued by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority below the Establish of enterprise of the Chief Adviser.
In step with the letter, Biman will take care of ground products and companies at the third terminal for the next two years. If Biman fails to meet expectations internal this length, the airline can also have to portion the responsibility with a renowned global firm.
Complaints from foreign airways
International airways non-public raised several complaints about Biman’s ground dealing with products and companies. It is some distance the responsibility of ground handlers to present adequate staffing for take a look at-in counters, baggage products and companies, cargo dealing with, and other linked responsibilities at the airport.
Nonetheless, Biman faces difficulties providing adequate workers ensuing from a lack of workers.
For that reason, several foreign airways were forced to rent their non-public ground dealing with workers at extra cost. For instance, Air Arabia has recruited over 30 workers participants at the airport, while Indigo and Singapore Airlines non-public employed 25 and 60 personnel, respectively.
In present hearings by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), several foreign airways non-public accused Biman of failing to snarl properly timed ground dealing with products and companies despite amassing charges.
Delays in baggage shipping non-public resulted in flight delays, while passengers non-public expressed frustration with delayed baggage dealing with, tarnishing the repute of a form of airways.
Passenger complaints
There are frequent studies from passengers regarding unhappy therapy, delayed baggage and incidents of theft at the fingers of ground dealing with workers.
One such case this year alive to a passenger flying to Chennai, whose in finding used to be chanced on to be lacking €6,800 (approximately Tk 910,000).
Biman authorities arrested 5 folks in reference to the theft.
A passenger from Saudi Arabia also voiced concerns, pointing out that receiving baggage at Dhaka airport regularly feels esteem “finding a golden deer.”
He expressed concerns regarding the likelihood of objects being stolen or damaged in transit. Whereas his baggage used to be intact on this occasion, it peaceable took a lengthy time to be returned.
Professional opinions
Aviation expert Wing Commander ATM Nazrul Islam also expressed concerns about Biman’s capability to address ground products and companies at the brand new terminal. Whereas he acknowledged that Biman could even non-public the required equipment, he pointed out that the airline lacks adequate manpower.
Nazrul Islam stated that Biman is already struggling to regulate the operations of Terminals 1 and 2, and questioned whether or not it is going to also organize a total terminal on my own.
He careworn out that while the airline can also very properly be able to assembly the technical requirements for ground dealing with, the general public perception of Biman’s provider quality remains unhappy.
As Biman takes over the third terminal, consultants are keenly watching to survey the intention in which it handles the challenges and whether or not it will perhaps meet global standards.
Fellow expert Kazi Wahidul Alam stated that in most airports right throughout the field, ground dealing with is not very the responsibility of a single organisation.
In Bangladesh, Biman monopolises ground dealing with right through all airports. He also expressed doubts about whether or not Biman can also properly organize ground products and companies at the brand new terminal.
Mofizur Rahman, Secretary Frequent of the Aviation Operators Association of Bangladesh and Managing Director of Novoair, urged that the monopoly on ground dealing with can also peaceable be broken.
He advocated for opening up ground dealing with products and companies to just a few firms via a competitive tendering course of, which may perhaps also within the conclude benefit both the nation and the industry.
Govt response
Based solely totally on these concerns, Hassan Arif, an advisor to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, stated that Biman is within the technique of shopping new equipment to toughen its ground dealing with capabilities.
He reassured that Biman’s efficiency would be intently monitored proper throughout the 2-year trial length. If the airline’s efficiency falls brief, more than just a few preparations will be made.
Arif also emphasised the importance of making lumber that ground dealing with products and companies meet global standards. Satisfactory practising for workers and the resolution of manpower shortages would be priorities within the impending months.
Regarding the timeline for the third terminal’s opening, Arif stated that construction is within the closing levels, and the terminal is anticipated to be operational internal a year.
In a identical vein, Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Manjur Kabir Bhuiyan, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), assured that efforts are underway to assemble positive that the brand new terminal’s products and companies meet mild standards.
He also careworn out that global quality in ground dealing with would be prioritised, making lumber that complaints from airways and passengers are kept to a minimum.
As Biman takes on the responsibility of managing ground dealing with products and companies at the third terminal, all eyes will be on the airline’s capability to address reward shortcomings and produce on its promises of world popular products and companies.
