Quantum leap in civil aviation industry during 2024

Quantum leap in civil aviation industry during 2024

28 million passengers at Cairo International Airport on 211,000 flights

•22m passengers at local airports, marking 9% increase compared to 2023

•Borg El Arab Airport strongest in Africa 

•Hosting ‘Egypt International Aviation and Space Exhibition’ 1st of its kind in New Alamein 

•Ayman Arab appointed as board member of Airports Council International

•ICAO ME Regional Office reopened after renovations

•EgyptAir hosted 56th AFRAA General Assembly

•Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority becomes member of Executive Council of Arab Organisation

•Air Cairo expands its fleet to 33 aircraft, launches new routes

By Mohamed Attia

The year 2024 witnessed numerous significant events and activities in the civil aviation sector, which continues to see remarkable development across all its divisions, from Egyptian airports to the national carrier and other entities. This progress has been achieved under the leadership of Pilot Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation.

Among the year’s highlights was the noticeable increase in passenger numbers and flights at Egyptian airports, excluding Cairo International Airport, compared to 2023. Total passenger numbers in 2024 exceeded 22 million, reflecting a 9% increase compared to 2023, which recorded 20 million passengers.

As for flights, Egyptian airports in 2024 handled 167,684 flights, marking a 3% increase compared to 2023, which saw 162,770 flights.

Cairo International Airport also saw a significant rise in passenger numbers in 2024, reaching 28.775 million passengers with a total of 211,664 flights, compared to 26.463 million passengers and 198,943 flights in 2023.

Additionally, Cairo Airport Company successfully passed the final review of its Integrated Management System (IMS), earning three quality certifications: ISO 9001:2015 for quality management, ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management, and ISO 45001:2018 for occupational health and safety. These certifications were granted after rigorous inspections by the Swiss accreditation body SGS, which confirmed compliance with all international standards for three years, subject to annual renewal.

The Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority also renewed the license for Cairo International Airport to operate as an international airport for three years until 2026. This renewal aligns with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as represented by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, adhering to global specifications and international standards.

Under the leadership of Magdy Ishaq, Cairo Airport Company completed several development projects, including the operation of the service area in Terminal 1 at Cairo International Airport after its renovation. These upgrades aim to enhance the quality of services provided to passengers, with several international brand restaurants now operating in the upper transit area after redevelopment and investment. These improvements ensure the highest standards of service excellence to meet all passenger needs.

The past year also witnessed the granting of international airport licenses to Alamein and Sohag airports for the first time since their operations began, issued by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority. Additionally, the licenses of Luxor and Borg El Arab international airports were renewed under the leadership of Pilot Wael El Nashar, Chairman of the Egyptian Airports Company.

In a new international achievement for the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, headed by Engineer Ayman Arab, Borg El Arab Airport won the award for being the strongest African airport in “Excellence in Airport Emergency Management.” Moreover, Borg El Arab International Airport successfully passed the annual review of its Integrated Management System (IMS), certified by the global standards authority SGS, a company specialising in safety and total quality management systems.

Furthermore, the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, led by Pilot Amr El Sharkawy, renewed Luxor International Airport’s license to operate as an international airport until 2026. This renewal complies with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), represented by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, according to global specifications and international standards.

The past year also saw the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation host the 71st Annual Meeting and Exhibition of the African Airports Council (ACI), held under the theme: “Airports: Engines of Social, Economic, and Sustainable Growth.” This event brought together 400 members representing airports and international Organisations from 52 African countries.

On November 11, Ayman Arab, Chairman of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, was elected to the Board of Directors of the Airports Council International (ACI Africa).

Egypt also hosted two major international events in the civil aviation sector in 2024. The first was the “Egypt International Aviation and Space Exhibition 2024,” held in New Alamein City. This unique global event in the fields of aviation and space, for Africa and the Middle East, witnessed extensive international participation, with more than 100 countries, 300 companies, and entities from aircraft and space manufacturers worldwide. The exhibition featured a large number of aircraft of various models (civilian, military, and unmanned) and was attended by delegations from different countries, along with a distinguished group of aviation and transport ministers, heads of international Organisations, civil aviation authorities, global airline executives, space agencies, and prominent figures in aviation and space from across Africa and the Middle East.

Additionally, Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation, inaugurated the ICAO Middle East Regional Office in Cairo after the completion of its renovations. The opening ceremony was attended by Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the ICAO Council, Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary-General, Mohamed Rahma, Director of the Air Transport Bureau at ICAO, and Mohamed Abu Bakr Fareh, Regional Director of the ICAO Office in Cairo, along with all office staff.

Finally, EgyptAir hosted the 56th General Assembly of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the largest gathering of African airline representatives. The event brought together over 500 prominent figures in civil aviation from around the world, including representatives of international Organisations, unions, authorities, and African civil aviation officials, airline executives, airport representatives, aircraft manufacturers, and spare parts and service providers.

The second annual medical conference of EgyptAir Hospital was inaugurated, focusing on “Medical Tourism and Digital Transformation,” attended by the Minister of Civil Aviation and several officials.

As for EgyptAir, under the leadership of Eng. Yehia Zakaria, and in line with the directives of the political leadership to enhance cooperation and ties between the peoples of African nations, EgyptAir launched its first flights to Djibouti and Mogadishu. The inaugural flights carried a delegation including Badr Abdel Aty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Egyptians Abroad; Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation; and senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation, Trade, and Investment.

In a new step towards expanding its global network and offering a broader range of destinations and services to its customers, EgyptAir celebrated the opening of its latest office in Prague. Additionally, it launched its first flights from Cairo to Zurich Airport in Switzerland last July.

EgyptAir ranked second for the highest on-time performance rate among airlines operating at Amsterdam Airport in October, according to the airport’s monthly airline performance report.

EgyptAir received the award for “Best Emerging African Airline” at the Indian Travel Awards ceremony held on August 13 at Sofitel BKC Mumbai. The voting process involved over 15,000 participants, ensuring maximum transparency and fairness in selecting deserving winners. The jury evaluated individuals and Organisations to determine the most deserving recipients.

According to the global Skytrax ranking, EgyptAir was ranked 88th among the best airlines globally. The airline also ranked second globally as the most improved airline and first in Africa for airline development and service enhancement.

The EgyptAir office in New Delhi, India, received the 2024 “Diplomatic Tourism” award, recognising Egypt as the best historical and heritage destination worldwide. Additionally, EgyptAir ranked second for on-time performance at Amsterdam Airport.

Athens International Airport named EgyptAir as the fastest-growing airline in Africa. This recognition was announced during the airport’s annual workshop to honor the best-performing airlines. The results were based on increased EgyptAir flights to Athens and passenger traffic, which saw consistent growth, reaching two daily flights in the winter schedule and three daily flights in the summer schedule. Hala Hamdan, EgyptAir’s Athens office manager, received the award from Athens International Airport officials.

An exceptional event that garnered global attention on social media and in newspapers occurred during the past few days—the wedding of Indian-American billionaire Ankur Jain and his wife, renowned model Erica Hammond. EgyptAir received widespread praise as the couple chose to fly on a private flight (MS3250) aboard the airline’s latest Airbus A320Neo from South Africa to Egypt. They celebrated their wedding at several tourist and archaeological sites in Cairo, attended by close guests, friends, and notable figures.

As part of the efforts of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, represented by EgyptAir, Guinea’s Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, along with the Guinean Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, praised EgyptAir for resuming direct Hajj flights from Conakry to the holy sites after a 12-year hiatus.

EgyptAir celebrated the transition of its flights to the new Terminal 1 at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The airline also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Etihad Airways to enhance their partnership in code-sharing agreements and loyalty programmes.

Continuing its support for Lebanon, EgyptAir organized flights carrying tons of humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the Lebanese people. The return flights brought hundreds of Egyptians back to their homeland.

EgyptAir Maintenance and Engineering, headed by Eng. Ibrahim Fathy, renewed the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for its three key daily maintenance stations in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, and Borg El Arab. This achievement underscores the company’s commitment to the highest safety and quality standards, reinforcing its leadership in aircraft maintenance in the region.

EgyptAir Maintenance also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Airbus, enhancing its status as a leader in aircraft maintenance and repair services. For the 13th consecutive year, the company passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspection.

The company renewed its ISO certification for quality, environmental, and occupational health and safety management systems. EgyptAir Maintenance also passed the renewal of the ISAGO international certification for the Cairo station for the 10th consecutive time.

EgyptAir Cargo signed a new partnership agreement with South Korea’s Asiana Airlines, a leading airline in the Asia-Pacific region. Under this agreement, EgyptAir Cargo will provide storage and handling services for Asiana’s inbound and outbound cargo at its Cairo cargo complex.

To boost air traffic and tourism, Air Cairo, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, added its 24th Airbus A320 aircraft to its fleet, bringing its total to 33 aircraft, including Airbus, E190, and ATR models.

Recently, Air Cairo, led by pilot Ahmed Shennin, obtained the ECAR Part 145 certification and signed strategic agreements with major aircraft manufacturers. In line with EgyptAir’s integration plan, both companies announced an increase in available destinations through a code-sharing agreement.

In the summer of last year, Air Cairo launched new routes to Venice, Istanbul, Antalya, and Yerevan. It also initiated its first regular flights connecting Cairo, Aswan, and Abu Simbel to promote domestic tourism and link various tourist attractions.

EgyptAir Hospital, led by Ayman Salah, received congratulations from the Minister of Civil Aviation for achieving accreditation from the Supreme Council for Reviewing Medical and Clinical Research Ethics under the Cabinet of Ministers.

EgyptAir Cargo, headed by pilot Ihab El-Tahawy, signed a long-term partnership with Unilode Aviation Solutions for the full management of cargo container services. This partnership will enhance operational efficiency and data analysis using the E-ULD application and Unilode’s customer information platform.

Last year, Egypt was re-elected to the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organisation during elections held in Rabat.

The National Air Navigation Services Company, led by Ihab Mohi, renewed its ISO 9001:2015 certification from DNV after passing all audits and inspections for international ISO requirements.

Aviation Information Technology Company (AVIT) renewed its ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification for three years, from October 2024 to August 2027, following the annual review of compliance with global quality management standards. The National Air Navigation Services Company also renewed its ISO certification from DNV.