Mohamed Attia
Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El-Hefny, said the civil aviation sector represents a vital avenue for strengthening Egyptian-Turkish relations by supporting tourism and trade flows between the two countries.
The minister’s remarks came during a ceremony organised by Turkish Airlines to mark the 75th anniversary of launching its first flights to Cairo, attended by Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Salih Mutlu Şen, Cairo Airport Company Chairman Magdy Ishak, and Turkish Airlines Regional Director Mohamed Hamza, along with senior aviation officials.
El-Hefny stressed the ministry’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with international airlines in line with Egypt’s strategy to attract more air traffic and expand connectivity with regional and global markets, reinforcing Egypt’s position as a regional aviation hub.
He congratulated Turkish Airlines on this achievement, noting that the carrier’s continuous presence in the Egyptian market for more than seven decades reflects the strength of bilateral ties and confidence in opportunities for growth and expansion.
For his part, the Turkish ambassador said the airline’s operations in Egypt demonstrate the strategic importance of the Egyptian market, noting that Turkish Airlines has expanded from two weekly Cairo flights in 1951 to around 32 weekly flights currently, in addition to daily flights to one of Egypt’s top tourist destinations.
Officials also highlighted the growing cooperation between Egypt and Türkiye in aviation, tourism, and investment amid broader efforts to deepen bilateral relations and regional integration.
