By Mohamed Attia
EgyptAir has seen significant development in recent years, despite the successive events that have affected air transportation at both the domestic and international levels. The Holding Company for EgyptAir and its subsidiaries have received many certificates and accreditations, which have ensured that they meet all the requirements of their international organisations. In this article, we publish the most important events that the company witnessed during this year.
The company witnessed an increase in its fleet from 71 aircraft to 81 aircraft, an increase of 12 per cent over the same period of the previous fiscal year. During that period, the company also saw an increase in the number of destinations it serves from 66 to 73 during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, an increase of 10 per cent.
At the level of air traffic, the company saw an increase in operating rates by 19 per cent compared to 2022, with an average movement of 85 per cent from 2021, increasing in 2023 by an increase over 2022, and it is expected that operating rates will increase in 2024.
During 2023, the national airline EgyptAir put in place an ambitious plan to expand its network of routes. New lines and markets were opened, and a number of lines that were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic were restarted. In addition, the fleet of aircraft was increased and new aircraft were added, which contributed to the revitalisation of air traffic to Egyptian tourist destinations.
EgyptAir, expansion in air routes
As part of its expansion plan to increase the number of points it serves around the world, EgyptAir succeeded during 2023 in opening and reopening 9 new routes to its network of air routes around the world. The start was with the operation of the first international flight from Sphinx International Airport to Almería Airport in Spain with its latest aircraft of the Airbus A320neo model. The first flight carried members of the board of directors of the Almería Sports Union in Spain.
In mid-May, EgyptAir celebrated with its passengers the launch of its first flights to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. In June, Cairo International Airport welcomed the first EgyptAir flights coming from Newark Airport in New Jersey, through 3 weekly flights between Cairo and Newark. In mid-July of last year, Minister of Aviation Mohamed Abbas Helmy and British Ambassador Gareth Bayley in Cairo witnessed the launch of the first flights of EgyptAir from Cairo International Airport to Manchester, United Kingdom, with a total of 5 flights to Manchester.
In August, EgyptAir’s first direct flights to the Indian capital, New Delhi, took off amid the noticeable and ongoing increase in trade exchange and travel between Egypt and India, with a total of 4 weekly flights. In September of the same year, EgyptAir’s first flights to the city of Port Sudan took off with 120 passengers on board, after the opening of the airspace to eastern Sudan.
As witnessed by the Minister of Civil Aviation and Hiroshi Oka, the Ambassador of Japan to Cairo, the ceremonies celebrating the resumption of the first flights of the national carrier EgyptAir, heading from Cairo International Airport to Narita Airport in the Japanese capital Tokyo, and the first flights of the national carrier EgyptAir to the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta, took off with a plane of the Dreamliner B787-9 type with 234 passengers on board, with two weekly flights.
EgyptAir, the national carrier, added a new point to its network of air routes spread around the world, which is a direct point between Cairo and Shanghai, China, with three weekly flights.
New aircraft
EgyptAir received its aircraft of the Airbus A321 NEO type during this year to be the first airlines in Africa to include this type in its fleet, and the company includes 7 aircraft of this type.
EgyptAir also announced the addition of the seventh aircraft of the B787-9 Dreamliner type, known as the Dreamliner, to the fleet of the national carrier EgyptAir, as part of a deal to purchase 8 aircraft of the B787-9 type, on condition that the eighth and last aircraft will join the fleet in 2024. On another level, EgyptAir Cargo Company received a new aircraft of the Boeing B737-800SF type after converting it from a passenger plane to an air cargo plane. It contracted with the American company Commercial Jet, a leader in the field of converting passenger aircraft to cargo aircraft. This aircraft is the first cargo plane to be converted from the B737-SF800 type.
Important events during 2023
In the presence of the Ministers of Aviation, Health and Higher Education, EgyptAir Hospital celebrated its 40th anniversary.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and its affiliated bodies and companies completed the Hajj season this year, 1444 AH / 2023 AD, with the return of about 56,000 pilgrims from Egyptian pilgrims, transit and private flights from Jeddah and Medina airports to Egyptian airports on board 240 flights.
The total number of pilgrims transported by the national company EgyptAir in the two stages of departure and return is about 91,000 passengers on board 390 flights.
Engineer Yahya Zakaria, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EgyptAir Holding Company, participated in the 94th Executive Committee meeting of the Arab Air Transport Union in Jeddah, hosted by Saudi Airlines. He also participated in the 95th Executive Committee meeting and the activities of the 56th General Assembly of the Arab Air Transport Union in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He also participated in the 189th Executive Committee meeting of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), hosted by Ethiopian Airlines.
EgyptAir Cargo resumed its regular flights to Mitiga Airport in Libya after a hiatus of more than 8 years, with one weekly flight that can be increased according to supply and demand, to serve the commercial movement between the two countries.
EgyptAir Maintenance and Engineering Company carried out many aircraft maintenance and overhaul works for 8 Arab airlines and 6 African airlines, in a new step towards increasing the number of its customers and expanding the scope of technical co-operation with airlines in the Middle East and Africa.
EgyptAir launched the new distribution channel system NDC (EGYPTAIR Retailing System), in order to increase the opportunities for displaying and selling the company’s products and additional services (Ancillary Services) better than they are now through global distribution systems (GDSs).
EgyptAir congratulated Mr. Theo Panagiotoulias for being chosen as the next CEO of Star Alliance, the first and largest global airline alliance in the world, wishing him more successes and achievements.
EgyptAir, a member of Star Alliance, congratulated Star Alliance for winning the best airline alliance in the world at the Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony for the current year 2023. The alliance’s lounge in Los Angeles also won the award for the best airline alliance lounge in the world for the seventh consecutive year.
EgyptAir, the national carrier, announced the possibility of obtaining a free transit visa to enter the Arab Republic of Egypt, with a duration of 8 to 96 hours, and can be obtained upon arrival at Cairo International Airport.
EgyptAir launches a promotional campaign on a number of famous London taxis in conjunction with the World Travel Market (WTM) exhibition.
Fruitful agreements at Dubai Airshow
Egypt announced a new contract to modernise its air fleet in co-operation with Air Lease Corporation, one of the world’s largest companies specialised in this field, through an operating lease system for 18 new Boeing 737-8MAX aircraft. The first aircraft is scheduled to be received starting in 2025, and the rest of the aircraft will be delivered successively by the end of 2026, in addition to 10 Airbus A350 aircraft. The company is also renewing the outdated seats in 19 aircraft as a first phase.
During the exhibition, an agreement was signed for the maintenance and repair of some of EgyptAir’s aircraft units at Honeywell, to provide aircraft unit repair services to ensure the continued operation of the aircraft fleet at the highest level of quality and efficiency. In addition, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Rolls-Royce to provide comprehensive engine care services, which include maintenance of 20 Trent XWB-84 engines that operate the fleet of aircraft that the company recently contracted for.
EgyptAir Maintenance and Engineering Company also signed a memorandum of understanding with Sand to enhance maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for a variety of aircraft engines and units.
EgyptAir Ground Services Company signed a new contract with Tiger Aviation Services (TAS) for aviation services to provide its ground services to one of its customers, Turkish Tailwind airlines. Under this contract, the company will provide its ground services to Turkish Tailwind airlines, which operates 4 weekly flights to Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada international airports.
The exhibition also witnessed the signing of a new agreement between the Saudi Academy in Jeddah and EgyptAir Airlines to use the B787 Dreamliner flight simulation device, in a step towards further co-operation with partners of success and within the framework of the close relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The company also signed a co-operation protocol with GE Aerospace of the United States to benefit from its software solutions through the Safety Insight, Fuel Insight, and Flight Pulse applications in its air operations for 5 years.
There was also co-operation between the EgyptAir Training Academy and the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations. This co-operation is in line with EgyptAir’s commitment to its social and human role and the maximisation of humanitarian initiatives.
Not to mention the role of the national company in the framework of social responsibility, which it attaches great importance to.
For example, EgyptAir Cargo Company transported a series of chilled meat shipments, with 55 tonnes per shipment, on board its A330-200 aircraft from the Chadian capital of N’Djamena to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
It also transported a shipment of Egyptian antiquities free of charge on board its flight number MS792 coming from Rome to Cairo International Airport.
EgyptAir also transported the national basketball team for wheelchairs to Kuwait to participate in the Arab Wheelchair Basketball Championship.
EgyptAir Medical Services Company received a delegation from Al-Rajhi University Liver Hospital in Assiut to make a field visit to the hospital and learn about the preparation procedures for GAHAR accreditation.
EgyptAir also received the top students of the Egyptian high school from building 2 of Cairo International Airport on board an EgyptAir flight to the German capital, Berlin, in what is known as the “journey of a lifetime” that EgyptAir organises and sponsors annually for the top students of the Egyptian high school certificate in co-operation with Dar Al-Taharer for Printing and Publishing Al-Gomhouria.
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