By Mohamed Attia
EgyptAir Holding Company Chairman Captain Ahmed Adel has led a wide-ranging series of high-level engagements during the 81st Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), held in New Delhi, India.
The event was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and brought together top airline executives, government officials, and aviation industry leaders from around the world.
Captain Adel held multiple bilateral meetings with major figures in global aviation to strengthen co-operation, explore strategic partnerships, and advance EgyptAir’s sustainability and fleet renewal agenda.
Among the key meetings, Captain Adel sat down with Kamil Al-Awadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, to discuss regional aviation challenges and opportunities to deepen co-operation with IATA in areas such as safety, training, and digital transformation. EgyptAir’s commitment to a sustainable aviation future was also on the agenda.
He also met with Theo Panagiotoulias, CEO of Star Alliance, to discuss ways to enhance the passenger experience through seamless travel initiatives and strengthen collaboration between member carriers.
Further bilateral talks included discussions with Bilal Ekşi, Chairman of Turkish Airlines, to boost air traffic between Egypt and Turkey, Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France–KLM Group, to explore deepened co-operation, Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, on potential areas of collaboration between the two carriers and Luis Rodrigues, CEO of TAP Air Portugal, building on their existing codeshare partnership.
On the fleet front, Captain Adel met with Boeing executives Chris Raymond and Dan Abraham to review EgyptAir’s delivery schedule for 18 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The airline is set to receive eight of the jets beginning in January 2026, with the remaining 10 to follow in 2027.
Fleet modernisation and maintenance partnerships were also high on the agenda. Captain Adel held talks with Firouzeh Tarapore, CEO of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, on aircraft leasing and financing options, and Jennifer Aument, CEO of JFK’s New Terminal One, to explore EgyptAir’s potential move to the new terminal and benefit from its advanced technological features.
Captain Adel also participated in the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board meeting, which ran alongside the IATA AGM. Discussions focused on enhancing joint projects among alliance members, improving customer experience, and leveraging digital innovation. The board also reviewed the alliance’s five-year strategic roadmap.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Captain Adel emphasised the importance of EgyptAir’s active participation in IATA’s AGM.
“This is a unique opportunity to engage directly with key issues shaping the future of global aviation,” he said.
“EgyptAir is fully committed to supporting IATA-led initiatives for more sustainable aviation and balancing operational growth with environmental responsibility.”
He added that EgyptAir continues to pursue strong partnerships with global airlines, service providers, and engine manufacturers as part of its strategic fleet modernisation and digital transformation.
“We’re focused on expanding our international and regional alliances and adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance customer experience and boost competitiveness,” Captain Adel said.
“Our co-operation with IATA is central to achieving economic integration and strengthening regional and global connectivity.”
Key themes of the 81st IATA General Assembly included the global economic outlook for aviation, the future of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and ongoing supply chain challenges facing the industry.
EgyptAir’s participation in the high-level event underscores the airline’s ambition to assert its leadership role in the Middle East and African aviation markets and enhance its global presence.
