Skywards By Mohamed Attia
Int’l flights return from around the world
The Egyptian aviation sector, thanks to the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and led by Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Manar, was able to achieve multiple achievements in 2021 represented in continuing the development and modernisation projects of the aviation system.
The efforts of the Ministry of Civil Aviation continued during the past year to implement precautionary measures to confront the coronavirus at all airports, on board aircraft and at all vital facilities in the sector, in accordance with the instructions of the World Health Organisation to ensure the safety of passengers and workers.
A total of 11 Egyptian airports obtained a certificate of “health accreditation for safe travel” from the Airports Council International.
Development projects also continued, which included modernising the infrastructure at the 27 Egyptian airports and raising their efficiency to increase capacity, develop passenger services, and modernise the airport insurance system and various vital facilities in the sector within a clear strategy of the Ministry of Aviation and in accordance with the highest international standards.
Tourist airports also witnessed the return of international flights from various countries of the world, including Russia, after a 6-year hiatus, while the air navigation systems were updated by satellite and comprehensive radar coverage to serve air traffic in the Egyptian airspace.
Despite the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the national air carrier, EgyptAir, continued to implement its strategic plans to develop the network, with the opening of airlines and the launch of new services for its customers.
The following is a review of the most important achievements, projects and successes achieved by companies and bodies affiliated with the Ministry of Civil Aviation during 2021:
Egyptian airports
Egyptian airports, under the leadership of Engineer Mohamed Saeed Mahrous, Chairman of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, and Pilot Ahmed Mansour, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Airports Company, accountant Magdy Ishaq, obtained the Health Accreditation Certificate for Safe Travel “AHA” from the International Airports Council ACI, which numbered 11 airports, to make Egypt one of the most countries in the number of airports that have obtained this certificate.
The airports are: Cairo International Airport, Taba, Marsa Matrouh, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, Burj Al Arab, Sohag, Assiut and Marsa Alam airports.
Hurghada Airport obtained the ISO 14001 (2015) certificate in environmental management, which is the accreditation for conforming the operating procedures and the management of work inside the airport to environmental standards.
The license of a number of tourist airports was renewed after fulfilling all the international requirements and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and local legislation in the field of airport safety.
This includes Luxor International Airport for a period of three years, which is the first time that the airport obtains a renewal for that period, and Borg El Arab International Airport for a period of two years and Aswan International Airport for one year.
As for the Egyptian Airports Company, it obtains the renewal of the ISO 9001/2015 accreditation for the quality of work performance for the company’s headquarters.
Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada and Burj Al Arab airports renewed the ISO 9001/2015 accreditation for an additional three years.
Security and Environmental Inspection Committee
Coordination meetings and inspection tours carried out by the Higher Committee for Security and Environmental Inspection headed by Pilot Montaser Manna, Deputy Minister of Civil Aviation, in a number of Egyptian airports to develop a mechanism for implementing the security and environmental inspection plan and assessing the status quo.
African Arab orientation
In light of the directives of the political leadership to strengthen aspects of co-operation with Arab and African countries, especially in the various fields of air transport, the Ministry of Civil Aviation signed several co-operation protocols to transfer expertise and provide all aspects of support in the fields of training and maintenance for the countries of South Sudan and Iraq.
EgyptAir also signed with Sudan Airways a memorandum of understanding for co-operation in the field of air transport and a codeshare agreement with Oman Air.
Social Responsibility
The Ministry of Civil Aviation participated in the initiative of the President titled (Able to Differ) to support and encourage young Egyptian people of determination.
The EgyptAir Training Academy hosted the little girl Basmala and a number of people of determination, the heroes of the initiative, who are able in different ways, to take a tour inside the academy and experience the simulator flight devices.
The national company, EgyptAir, headed by pilot Amr Aboul-Enein, also organised a recreational trip for people of determination and their families to Luxor to fulfill their wishes to experience the travel experience and visit tourist and archaeological sites.
EgyptAir offered a 20% discount for people with special needs, and 10% for their companions from their first-degree relatives, in addition to giving them an additional 500 miles when they join the Egyptair Plus frequent flyer programme.
Initiatives
The Ministry of Civil Aviation presented a package of initiatives and measures to stimulate air and tourism traffic to Egyptian airports, which included reductions in landing and accommodation fees at tourist airports, as well as reducing the price of jet fuel by 15 cents per gallon, as part of the state’s keenness to provide continuous support to the aviation sector and stimulate the aviation programme.
An initiative was launched in “Love of EgyptAir and Egyptian Airports” as part of the social responsibility carried out by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Under the slogan “From the Heart to the Heart”, EgyptAir Karnak launched discount programmes on the occasion of Valentine’s Day and coinciding with EgyptAir’s participation in the initiative.
