Menzies Plans $12m Airport Investment

UK-based Menzies Aviation plans to invest US$12 million and create more than 1,000 direct jobs in its first year if selected as the second passenger-handling operator at the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. The company said its operations could also support more than 4,500 indirect jobs across Bangladesh’s wider economy and supply chain.

Menzies officials disclosed the proposed investment and employment plans at a press conference at a city hotel on Thursday, September 17.

The global aviation services company is competing with several international ground-handling operators for the passenger-handling contract. The competitors include Çelebi Aviation, dnata, Swissport and SATS.

Charles Wyley, Executive Vice President for the Middle East, Africa and Asia at Menzies, and John Henderson, Senior Vice President of Operations for the Middle East and Africa, addressed the briefing. Sakib Ershad, Director of Trade and Investment at the British High Commission in Dhaka, also spoke.

Menzies said its proposed investment would cover airport operations, workforce development and the enhancement of Bangladesh’s local aviation capabilities.

Under the plan, the company intends to establish a Menzies Training Academy in Dhaka to provide international-standard aviation training and create long-term career opportunities for Bangladeshi nationals.

The company also plans to work with local universities, colleges and schools to develop aviation-related academic programmes, internships and graduate career pathways.

According to Menzies officials, the initiative would facilitate knowledge and skills transfer while strengthening local operational, technical and managerial expertise. Bangladeshi employees would also have opportunities to develop careers in the international aviation industry, they said.

Menzies further plans to manufacture and source uniforms locally. The initiative could create business opportunities for Bangladesh’s textile and garment industry while increasing local participation in the company’s supply chain.

The company said local recruitment, professional training, leadership development and long-term knowledge transfer would help build a sustainable national aviation workforce.

Menzies also said the proposed investment could strengthen Bangladesh-UK trade and investment relations through greater commercial engagement and the exchange of skills and knowledge.

The appointment of a second passenger-handling operator at the third terminal is expected to increase competition and contribute to improvements in ground-handling services.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh aims to begin partial operations at the third terminal by December 16 this year.
//DBTech/SSC/SME/MIST//