Foreign airlines operating at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport must hire their own staff for passenger and cargo handling, despite paying Biman Bangladesh Airlines for these services, leading to higher airfare costs. Airlines pay Biman $2,200-$6,000 per flight for ground handling, plus $0.07 per kilogram for cargo, but receive inadequate staff support. The Airlines Operators Committee (AOC) proposes appointing multiple ground handlers to improve service quality. Ground handling charges at Dhaka airport are significantly higher than in neighboring countries, increasing operational costs for airlines. Biman officials deny service inadequacies and claim efforts are underway to improve staffing. With the new terminal set to double airport capacity, Biman needs to recruit 1,384 additional staff. The AOC highlights issues like poor shift management and inadequate staff, impacting service quality and safety. Hygiene concerns also persist, with airlines incurring extra costs for potable water.
Source for more details:
