By Mohamed Attia
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (EHCAAN) Ayman Arab has become the first Egyptian appointed as an advisor to the Airports Council International (ACI) Policy and Governance Council.
This pivotal appointment, which sees Arab representing the African continent on ACI’s highest decision-making body responsible for setting global aviation policies and strategies, underscores the growing influence and leading role of Egypt within the international aviation sector.
Arab’s selection, announced during the 74th Board Meeting of the ACI-Africa Region in Lusaka, Zambia, directly aligns with directives from the Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation to enhance Egyptian and African representation in influential global forums.
For Arab, this dual role reflects a “doubled responsibility” aimed at opening new horizons for co-operation and the exchange of expertise, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and innovative future for the global aviation industry.
During his participation in the ACI meetings, Engineer Arab highlighted the extraordinary expansion of the African aviation sector, which boasts the fastest growth rate globally at 9 per cent, with Egyptian airports consistently achieving the highest traffic volume on the continent.
He cautioned, however, that growth alone is insufficient; the priority must be ensuring this expansion is transformative one that “transforms people’s lives, opens up opportunities, and creates lasting value for future generations.”
To sustain this acceleration, Arab presented a cohesive vision centered on the synergy of three interdependent pillars: infrastructure, connectivity networks, and regulatory frameworks.
He explained that modern airports provide the solid infrastructure, while robust connectivity gives it meaning by linking markets and facilitating trade.
Clear, attractive regulatory frameworks, in turn, provide the stability and confidence necessary to attract crucial investment.
Arab stressed that these elements cannot function in isolation and confirmed that Egypt is already successfully implementing this integrated model.
Looking toward the future, the EHCAAN Chairman emphasised a strategic shift in perspective, arguing that airports must evolve beyond simple travel gateways to become “economic engines for interconnected and sustainable development.” He detailed EHCAAN’s visionary plan to develop an “integrated airport city,” a destination where the airport encompasses a wide array of commercial, entertainment, logistical, technological, and tourism services.
This forward-thinking approach was a central theme of his participation as a keynote speaker in the panel discussion, “Shaping the Future of Air Travel: A Global Perspective for Airports,” held during the ACI World Annual General Assembly (WAGA) 2025 in Toronto, Canada.
Arab joined a select group of global airport leaders, including the CEOs of Milan Airports and the Nigerian Federal Airports Authority, to discuss future trends and industry challenges, with his representation reinforcing the active role of Egyptian civil aviation in supporting the global sector.
This momentum further secured Egypt’s standing when Sharm El Sheikh won the bid to host the WAGA in 2027, following the official signing ceremony earlier this year.
