By Mohamed Attia
Egypt’s civil aviation sector is experiencing a major transformation, moving past recent losses caused by political events and the Covid-19 pandemic to achieve strong economic growth and profitability.
The sector’s turnaround was highlighted by national carrier EgyptAir winning the “World’s Most Improved Airline” award for 2026 from the global ranking agency Skytrax.
EgyptAir climbed to 46th place globally entering the world’s top 50 airlines while also topping several categories in Africa.
During a press conference, Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh el-Hefny shared that congratulations from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi served as a immense source of pride and motivation for the entire sector to build upon this achievement.
El-Hefny expressed his gratitude to all civil aviation leaders and employees, emphasising that the sector’s success is the result of teamwork and employee dedication.
He reviewed Egypt’s participation in the Alamein International Air and Space Show 2026 (EIAS 2026), praising the Ministry of Defence and the Egyptian Air Force for their effective organisation.
The event highlighted Egypt’s advanced capabilities in aviation and space, leading to strategic partnerships, agreements, and joint projects with major international companies.
A major focus of the ministry’s strategy is partnering with the private sector to manage, operate, and develop Egyptian airports in co-operation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank Group.
El-Hefny also clarified that these partnerships do not mean selling airports or giving up state sovereignty, as asset ownership remains fully with the Egyptian state.
Hurghada International Airport is serving as the pilot project for this strategy. Out of ten international consortia that applied, seven have passed the pre-qualification stage and will receive the Request for Proposals (RFP).
The selection process is expected to take six to eight months, and the target management contract duration will be around 30 years, subject to parliamentary approval.
Addressing workforce concerns, the minister confirmed that there are no plans to lay off staff during this private sector integration.
Instead, current employees will be retained and upskilled through retraining and capacity-building programmes designed to meet modern international standards. The ministry also plans to offer future airport tender opportunities in independent packages based on each airport’s growth potential and specific characteristics, following international best practices.
Infrastructure plans are currently underway to raise the total capacity of Egyptian airports to nearly 100 million passengers annually.
Major efforts focus on expanding Cairo International Airport, alongside Sphinx, Alamein, and Capital International airports, which will each have their capacities raised to 5 million passengers per year.
To support a smooth travel experience, these airport expansions will be integrated with multimodal transport networks, including electric trains and high-speed transit linking airports directly to tourist sites and new cities.
Egypt’s major airlines are expanding their fleets to support these broader growth goals.
Chairman of the EgyptAir Holding Company Ahmed Adel announced that EgyptAir plans to expand its fleet to 125 aircraft by 2030 and 200 aircraft by 2035.
EgyptAir is receiving four new aircraft before the end of the year — three Boeing 737 Max jets and one Airbus A350 — and is negotiating with leasing firm AerCap for additional wide-body planes.
Meanwhile, Air Cairo Chairman Hussein Sherif shared that his airline’s current 43-plane fleet will grow to 80 aircraft by 2029, backed by over $4.2 billion in secured contracts for 30 Airbus A320neo aircraft and 68 engines.
Air Cairo is also building a new training centre and maintenance hangar at its main hub, Hurghada International Airport, in partnership with private investors.
