By Mohamed Attia
EgyptAir is facing a renewed smear campaign as it expands its fleet and routes, with rivals and others spreading false rumours about the airline.
The latest rumor, which has been widely circulated on social media, is that EgyptAir is selling tickets in foreign currency. This is false, the airline has said, and it is committed to selling tickets in Egyptian pounds for all flights departing from Egypt.
The rumor campaign comes as EgyptAir is in the midst of a major expansion programme. The airline has recently announced plans to acquire 18 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and 10 Airbus A350-900s. It has also launched new routes to several destinations, including New York, São Paulo and Dhaka.
The expansion programme is part of EgyptAir’s strategy to become a leading global airline. The airline is investing heavily in new aircraft and technology in order to improve its service and compete with other major airlines.
The smear campaign against EgyptAir is likely an attempt to sabotage the airline’s expansion plans.
However, the airline has shown that it is committed to providing its customers with a high-quality service, and it is unlikely to be deterred by the rumours.
The national company faced the malicious or rather funny rumor with an official statement in which it confirmed its commitment to implementing all the instructions issued by the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, which stipulate that airline tickets be issued from inside Egypt and that the journey starts from the Arab Republic of Egypt to foreign destinations in Egyptian pounds, and also not to issue any tickets from inside the Egypt for flights that start from outside the country.
It is noteworthy that the recent boom of EgyptAir in all its sectors has aroused the resentment of some who seek to destroy or belittle the national company without providing logical justifications. We are not against constructive criticism, but if the company is besieged every few months with a barrage of rumours, this confirms that the national company is facing a fierce war from all sides, the most dangerous of which is the recurring rumor of the company’s intention to sell, which is also a matter that confirms the deep seated hatred against the company without justification.
What is interesting is that EgyptAir has not paid attention to the attempts to destroy it in the recent period. The ompany, headed by Engineer Yahya Zakaria, and according to the instructions of Mohamed Abbas Helmy, Minister of Civil Aviation, continued its plans for development, supporting its fleet and reaching new points.
The features of the company’s development were clearly evident in the activities of the Dubai Air Show 2023, which witnessed the announcement of the national company of a number of new contracts to update its air fleet, the most important of which was with Air Leas Corporation through the operating lease system for 18 new Boeing B737 aircraft.
This contract is the first deal between Air Leas Corporation and EgyptAir, and the Boeing B737-800 is the first addition to EgyptAir’s fleet, and the first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered starting in 2025, with the rest of the aircraft to be delivered successively by the end of 2026.
During the Dubai Air Show, EgyptAir also announced the signing of a new deal to purchase 10 A350-900 aircraft. When added to the company’s fleet, the A350-900 aircraft will contribute to reducing fuel consumption by 25 per cent, and thus reducing carbon emissions from flights.
Passengers on board these aircraft enjoy the best travel experiences thanks to the distinctive “Air Space” cabin from Airbus, which provides spacious luggage areas and other amenities.
With the completion of this deal, the total number of the national company’s aircraft will reach 108 by the end of 2026, knowing that the current operating fleet of EgyptAir includes 80 aircraft, including 42 Boeing aircraft of different models.
In the past months, EgyptAir has also launched many air flights around the world. The company operated its first direct flights to Port Sudan, carrying 120 passengers. The new line was launched after the opening of the airspace to eastern Sudan, which supports the company’s ambitious plan to expand within the African continent.
Guarulhos International Airport in the Brazilian city of São Paulo also received EgyptAir’s first direct flights between Cairo and São Paulo, flight number MS3910, on board the company’s latest B787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. This flight is the first in the company’s history for this route. EgyptAir operates a special flight to the Brazilian city of São Paulo every two weeks.
EgyptAir Airlines, headed by Pilot Mohamed Moussa, has recently added Dhaka, Bangladesh and New Jersey, USA to its network of routes. EgyptAir has also announced the operation of its latest air routes to Manchester, England and Delhi, India, in addition to operating the Shanghai, China route. These new routes represent additional expansion points for EgyptAir’s network in Asia and Europe and serve new customers for the company around the world.
EgyptAir has also signed an agreement with Panasonic Avionics Corporation for in-flight entertainment and communication systems to operate the Astrova programme which is a revolution in the field of aviation, on its new Airbus A350ز
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