By Mohamed Attia
The Cairo International Airport is witnessing a new boom during the current period in all aspects.
One of the most prominent achievements was the noticeable increase in travel and arrival rates as the airport recorded at the end of 2022 the highest rate since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in 2019.
Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Abbas, said that the Cairo International Airport received about 20 million passengers by the end of 2022, the largest number it has reached as it has a capacity of 27 million passengers.
“This is the highest number in the airport’s history. Things are going well, and every day large numbers of travellers or arrivals are received,” he stated.
Minister Abbas confirmed that Cairo International Airport is witnessing the implementation of many development projects during the current period, within the framework of the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s comprehensive strategy to provide the best quality of services to its customers.
The target is to achieve more smoothness of passenger traffic at Egyptian airports and to enjoy a safe travel experience with all amenities of comfort and luxury, since Cairo International Airport is the first gateway to Egypt and Africa.
He added that the air traffic during the months of October, November and December witnessed great demand by tourists.
Abbas said that his ministryhas attached due importance to the environment file, with the aim of reducing environmental pollution, cutting carbon emissions resulting from aviation, and relying on new and renewable energy, which contributes to achieving sustainable economic growth in line with the goals of comprehensive development and Egypt’s Vision 2030, aiming to advance the civil aviation system.
For his part, Board Chairman of the Cairo AirPort Company, MagdyIshaq,said that the development work at the Cairo airport came in light of the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s plan to develop the services and to show the civilized and aesthetic appearance of the airport to tourists from different countries of the world.
Ishaq pointed out that Cairo airport is undergoing great development during the current period.
Cairo International Airport witnessed the start of the trial operation of the electric treadmill last November in preparation for the official opening. This came within the framework of Minister Abbas directives to provide all facilities to streamline the movement of passengers between the three passenger buildings and prevent overcrowding at Cairo International Airport.
The electric treadmill project, which connects Terminal 2 and the multi-storey garage, contributes to facilitating the movement of passengers and parking, and avoiding any congestion inside Cairo airport.
The engineering designs of the electric treadmill project included a covered walkway with a length of 310 metres, a bridge with a length of 65metres and a width of 7 and a half metres. It also included two collection areas, the first at the multi-storey garage, and the second at the terminal building 2, in addition to five service areas distributed along the length of the walkway.
The HUB area includes commercial and service spaces, cafeterias, and toilets, internet service and fire systems.
As for the multi-storey garage project, which is one of the development schemes at Cairo International Airport, Ishaq confirmed that it has a capacity of more than 2,500 cars, with a ground area of 18,000 square metres, containing five floors, and ten elevators operating at full capacity.
Ishaq said that the Cairo airport’s garage has also been developed by carrying out paint works, beautifying the floors, raising the efficiency of the toilets, providing the garage with LED lighting systems, a ventilation system, a rain drainage network,improving fire-extinguishing networks, expanding the parking lot to accommodate around 2,500 cars and 100 buses,in addition to modernizing the car routing system.
The Cairo Air Port Company has carried out a comprehensive maintenance of all roads leading to the passenger terminals and the garage. It has implemented modern roads and paths equipped with the latest lighting systems with trees and green spaces, according to Ishaq.
The head of the Cairo Air Port Company explained that the solar powerplant projecthas completed in co-operation with the Ministry of Environment, as it produces 300 kilowatts of solar energy and provides 600,000 annually to the Cairo Air Port Company. The station’s cost totaled around 3.5 million.
