By Mohamed Attia
EgyptAir Cargo has announced a major expansion of its operational capabilities with the planned conversion and addition of two Airbus A330 passenger aircraft into dedicated freighters, boosting its fleet flexibility and opening new markets for growth.
Speaking at an event honouring top freight agents, Captain Ihab El-Tahatawy, Chairman of EgyptAir Cargo, revealed that the company successfully transported over 58,000 tonnes of cargo in the past year — an 18% increase compared to the previous period. Of this, 25,000 tonnes were agricultural exports, reflecting a 2% year-on-year growth, supported by Egypt’s Export Development Fund and Ministry of Finance.
El-Tahatawy emphasised the company’s commitment to international standards, highlighting the retention and expansion of critical certifications, including IATA CEIV Pharma, enabling the airline to handle pharmaceutical shipments at the highest global benchmarks.
“A key milestone this year was obtaining full certification to ship all categories of dangerous goods from China,” he said, noting that previously only two types were authorised.
As part of its fleet development, EgyptAir Cargo will receive two Airbus A330-200 converted freighters by early 2026, each with a payload capacity of 55 tonnes. This move is expected to increase the fleet’s capacity by 66%. Later additions will include two Airbus A350-1000 freighters with a payload of 111 tonnes each, which will raise capacity by 88% after the A330s are integrated.
During the event, Mohamed Zaki, General Manager of Commercial Affairs, outlined EgyptAir Cargo’s strategic roadmap to transform Cairo International Airport into a regional cargo hub (HUB) for the Middle East and Africa, offering efficient, high-quality, and secure logistics services.
He also revealed plans to expand the airline’s cargo network, which now includes new routes from Cairo to Sydney, Singapore, Kano, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Shenzhen, and Urumqi.
“The addition of the A350 freighters will allow us to carry a wider range of cargo types, including aircraft engines of all sizes, to destinations worldwide,” Zaki noted.
He further shared the company’s digital ambitions, including cost governance initiatives, and a revamp of its corporate website to align with the latest developments in global air cargo.
Top international and local freight partners were honoured at the ceremony, including “Ruch”, Link global Cargo’s agent in Dubai, and “Venus”, the leading sales agent within Egypt.
Attendees praised the event’s organisation, which was handled by the Public Relations Department under the leadership of Ahmed Kamal, General Manager of PR at EgyptAir Cargo.
This strategic growth underscores EgyptAir Cargo’s vision to cement its position as a regional air freight leader, blending operational excellence with global-standard compliance and a clear focus on fleet modernisation and customer service.
