European aircraft-manufacturing company Airbus and British aviation giant Menzies Aviation on Tuesday expressed their eagerness to build a long-term partnership with Bangladesh.
The two companies presented their offers as Airbus Executive Vice President Wouter van Wersch and Menzies Aviation Executive Vice President Charles Wyley called on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus successively at his hotel in London, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB.
“We have identified Bangladesh as a key priority country,” van Wersch told the chief adviser, adding that the company was keen to build a partnership with Bangladesh’s national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and make it profitable.
Wersch said Airbus, which supplies 800 aircraft annually, also has expertize in manufacturing helicopters and fighter jets.
The chief adviser said Bangladesh was willing to consider all offers to modernize the Biman fleet but could not rush a decision.
“I am very eager to understand what can be done, what should be done. So, we will listen to you. But don’t expect any decision soon. We have to look at everything in a very fresh way,” said the chief adviser.
Wersch noted that if Bangladesh decides to add Airbus to the Biman fleet, 85% of the funding could be arranged through Export Credit Agency (ECA) financing.
London-based Menzies Aviation expressed its willingness to join the competition to provide ground handling and air cargo services at the third terminal of Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, using its experience of offering similar services at more than 300 airports in at least 65 countries.
“We would like to support Bangladeshi airports besides your national carrier,” Wyley told Yunus.
Wyley said the company would make Dhaka a training hub for part of its 65,000 employees across the globe if it were entrusted with the task of ground handling.
“We are a proven British company, and we would like to offer our support,” said Wyley.