Four global ground handlers shortlisted for Dhaka airport's Third Terminal

Dhaka: The Japanese consortium set to operate the Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has named four global ground handlers for clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).

The shortlisted companies are Menzies Aviation of the UK, Swissport of Switzerland, Çelebi Aviation Holding of Türkiye, and dnata of the UAE, which is part of the Emirates Group, according to media reports, citing CAAB Member (Operations and Planning) Air Commodore Abu Sayeed Mehboob Khan.

The consortium has submitted the list to CAAB, which will check whether any of the companies face security, regulatory, or other issues that could bar them from operating at the country's principal international airport.

Once CAAB gives clearance, the consortium will choose one operator from the eligible companies. The authority will then issue the ground handling license in that operator's name, allowing preparations to begin at the Third Terminal.

The selected operator will work alongside Biman Bangladesh Airlines in passenger ground handling. Cargo handling will remain exclusively with the national flag carrier.

Ground handling includes aircraft servicing, baggage management, passenger check-in, ramp operations, and aircraft turnaround. All of these directly affect service quality, punctuality, and the passenger experience.

Industry analysts said the decision carries significance beyond appointing another service provider, as Bangladesh moves from constructing the Third Terminal toward delivering international-standard airport operations.

The development also marks a major shift in the country's aviation sector, they said, with established global operators now competing to enter the passenger ground handling market.