Biman Bangladesh Airlines subsidiaries
Biman Bangladesh Airlines subsidiaries include a number of ancillary and maintenance facilities established to facilitate operations of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national carrier of Bangladesh. Biman's subsidiaries are associated with aircraft ground handling, aviation engineering, aviation training and flight catering.
Among these wholly owned subsidiaries are Biman Flight Catering Centre; Biman Poultry Complex; Biman Ground Handling; Bangladesh Airlines Training Centre; and Biman Engineering.
Commercial divisions
Biman Flight Catering Centre
Biman Flight Catering Centre (BFCC) was set up in October 1989, to produce in-flight meals. It is one of Biman's most profitable operations; employing 2000 people.[1] BFCC has the capacity of producing 8,500 meals a day and along with Biman, it also provides meals to Saudia Airlines, Etihad, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, Emirates, Cathay Dragon, China Southern Airlines and Regent Airways.[2]
Biman Poultry Complex
The Biman Poultry Complex (BPC) is a poultry farming complex located 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Dhaka City, in the Savar district. The complex encompasses 75 acres (300,000 m2) of land including 5 acres (20,000 m2) of poultry sheds, a 1-acre (4,000 m2) residential area, and 69 acres (280,000 m2) of agricultural land.
This profit-making subsidiary of Biman was formed in 1976 and put into operation in November 1980. It employs 90 people. The Biman Flight Catering Centre consumes 90% of the eggs and chickens from the poultry complex.
The poultry industry in Bangladesh was partly pioneered by the Biman subsidiary in the mid-1970s, although the first poultry in Bangladesh was a private venture named "Eggs and Hens" established in 1964.[3] The medium-sized breeder set up by BPC eventually led to NGOs and the government coming forward to develop the sector in early 1990.[4] Poultry now has "a significant role" in providing low-cost dietary protein to the Bangladesh population.[5]
Bird flu was detected at one of the farms in March 2007, which resulted in many livestock being culled.[6] This was the first incident of bird flu in Bangladesh.
Other
Biman Ground Handling
Biman provides ground handling and cargo handling services to all airlines operating in Bangladesh, in all airports.[7] Established along with Biman Bangladesh Airlines in 1972, it generated profits of BDT 4.5 billion in the FY 2011-2012, making it one of the most profitable subsidiary of Biman.[8]
Bangladesh Airlines Training Center
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Training Center (BATC) trains its ground, flight service and technical personnel to meet the growing needs of Biman's manpower. The center, founded in 1987, has also been turned into a seat of training and technical seminars for local travel agents and some foreign airlines.[2]
Biman Engineering
The aviation engineering division of Biman Bangladesh Airlines was separated from the commercial division in 2004. This step was taken in order to turn engineering independently profitable from the commercial ventures listed above.[9][10]
This subsidiary is located in Biman's Engineering Hangar at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.
References
- "Catering". Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- "Corporate Profile". Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- Saleque, Muhammad A. "Poultry Industry in Bangladesh: Current Status and Its Future" (PDF). Retrieved 31 August 2007.
- "Bangladesh Grand parent poultry farm starts operation in June". The Poultry Site. 30 May 2005. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
- Ali, Muhammad Mahboob (18 May 2011). "Poultry industry in Bangladesh: Present status and future challenges (Part I)". Daily Sun. East West Media Group Limited. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- "Protect our small farmers from bird flu". The Daily Star. 13 April 2007. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
- "Ground Handling". Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
- Khan, Jasim (12 January 2013). "Biman's ground-handling task going to qualified int'l agency". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
- "Biman to separate engineering division". Weekly Holiday, AviTour Supplement. 30 April 2004. Archived from the original on 15 February 2005. Retrieved 31 August 2007.
- "Biman to separate engineering division". 22 May 2004. Retrieved 19 June 2012.