Biman raging with high handling rates

Biman's rates are scandalous in comparison with charges realised elsewhere. Ground handling charges for a Tristar Aircraft at ZIA is $5600. By contrast, it is four to five times less in Dubai and Bangkok. Only Kolkata charges anywhere near that amount -- $4000. ZIA represents a whole country's international airport, its gateway. As such, we cannot afford to see its competitiveness diminished by such exorbitant handling rates across the board.

There is more to that flat rate. Thirty per cent extra is charged on the original cost as peak hour, odd hour or overstay fee. Basically, an inefficiency cost gets added to the total. As they are, landing, parking and navigation charges of CAAB are higher at ZIA.

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Biman is apparently in desperation to make good some of its loss-making image by milking another source of income completely oblivious of the fact that it is the competitiveness of ZIA that is being undercut.

Though Biman is working as an agent of the CAAB, even the latter is unable to fix rates for Biman on the basis of International Civil Aviation Organisation standards. What an abuse of a borrowed ground handling authority by Biman.

So, we urge the government to intervene in two ways to enhance the image and earning capacity of Zia International Airport: first, make the charges competitive; and secondly, open the ground handling services to competition in the private sector.