By Mohamed Attia
The Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) has announced the successful completion of an intensive operational readiness test in preparation for the anticipated opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), demonstrating high levels of coordination, efficiency, and professionalism across the nation’s aviation sector.
Under the supervision of Chairman and Managing Director of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation Ayman Arab and guided by Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh El-Hefny both Cairo International Airport (CAI) and Sphinx International Airport (SPX) seamlessly managed a significant surge in air traffic.
In total, the airports received 724 flights carrying approximately 105,859 passengers, achieving an outstanding 99 per cent on-time performance rate (OTP) with zero noticeable delays.
This massive operation, which included accommodating numerous high-level international delegations, reflected the state’s capabilities in hosting major global events with impeccable organisational efficiency.
Sphinx International Airport (SPX), under the supervision of Pilot Wael El-Nashar, Chairman of the Egyptian Airports Company, was a major hub for the operation due to its proximity to the GEM.
SPX received 16 official international flights transporting delegations from eleven countries, including the UAE, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Across the two-day test period, SPX managed 23 commercial flights, successfully handling 6,811 passengers. Meanwhile, Cairo International Airport (CAI), led by Accountant Magdy Ishaq, maintained smooth operations, receiving 701 flights (arrivals and departures) and transporting approximately 99,048 passengers.
These included 34 official flights carrying delegations from a wide array of twenty-four nations, such as Saudi Arabia, Italy, Germany, and Japan.
El-Hefny affirmed that this successful drill underscores the opening of the GEM as a “new starting point for cultural tourism,” showcasing Egypt’s ability to fuse its profound history with modern operational excellence.
Concurrently, EgyptAir, the national flag carrier, stepped forward as the official sponsor of this historic global archaeological event, providing extensive logistical and promotional support.
Chairman and Managing Director of EgyptAir Holding Company Ahmed Adel emphasised that this participation was both “an honor and a national responsibility.”
EgyptAir provided comprehensive services, including logistical support to the event’s organising team and efficiently managing the international flight tickets for orchestra members and specialised technical teams arriving from various countries.
Beyond logistical support, EgyptAir launched one of its largest global promotional campaigns to introduce the GEM worldwide.
This campaign involved completely redesigning one of its aircraft with the museum’s logo and identity, transforming the plane into a flying billboard.
, Chairman and Managing Director of EgyptAir Holding Company, Furthermore, the airline ensured a unified visual identity by displaying the museum’s logo on headrests across its entire fleet and distributing commemorative chocolates to passengers, alongside broadcasting promotional films and displaying banners in its lounges and offices worldwide, reinforcing national efforts to solidify Egypt’s position on the global tourism map.
