By Mohamed Attia
Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El Hefny, has inaugurated Air Cairo’s new office and integrated operations centre at Terminal 1 of Cairo International Airport. He was received by Air Cairo Chairman and CEO, Ahmed Shannan.
The opening ceremony was attended by EgyptAir Holding Company Chairman Ahmed Adel, Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Amr El Sharkawy, and senior officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry and its affiliated companies.
El Hefny stressed that improving customer services is a top priority to boost operational efficiency, especially as air traffic is expected to rise in the coming period. He noted that this aligns with Egypt’s broader development strategy, which focuses on optimising logistics capabilities and refining market policies to accommodate growing demand.
He highlighted Air Cairo’s key role as the low-cost arm of Egypt’s civil aviation sector, pointing to its expansion as a driver for tourism and economic growth. The minister reaffirmed government support for Egyptian airlines to enhance their competitiveness regionally and internationally. He also said the new office would improve operational efficiency and passenger services, reflecting the airline’s ability to keep pace with ongoing upgrades at Cairo International Airport.
Expanding operations
Shannan outlined the capabilities of the new office, which includes a sales department operating daily from 7am to 11pm, offering ticketing services and flexible booking modifications. A newly established integrated operations centre will monitor aircraft movement 24/7, ensuring flight readiness, weather tracking, and emergency response coordination.
He revealed that Air Cairo transported nearly 5 million passengers on 42,000 flights in 2024, with 42% of its routes serving Europe and 37% the Middle East. The airline plans to expand its fleet with five additional aircraft in the second quarter of 2024 and is currently operating from nine domestic locations, including Cairo and Hurghada. Air Cairo serves all major German cities and more than 75 international destinations.
To support its growth, the airline is working with an international consultancy firm to develop its expansion strategy. A new facility has also been set up at Cairo Airport’s airside area to accommodate technical and maintenance teams, improving service efficiency and aircraft readiness.
The airline has received approval under the ECAR 145 maintenance certification, enhancing its ability to conduct high-standard in-house maintenance. The new technical facility will support aircraft operations worldwide, ensuring maximum readiness and minimising downtime.
Founded in 1999, Air Cairo launched its first commercial flight in October 2003 from Hurghada to Frankfurt. Its fleet currently comprises 37 aircraft, including Airbus A320 Neo and Ceo models, ATR turboprops, and Embraer E190s. Five additional Airbus A320 Ceo aircraft are expected in 2025, replacing two older planes and bringing the total fleet to 40 by mid-2025.
