Egypt’s Civil Aviation Minister in Paris for strategic talks with global airport leaders
By: Mohamed Attia
In a significant move to enhance Egypt’s air transport system and elevate the travel experience, Minister of Civil Aviation Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, recently concluded a series of high-level meetings with leading international airport operations and management companies. These pivotal discussions took place on the sidelines of his participation in the 55th Paris International Air and Space Show “Le Bourget.”
Minister El-Hefny’s agenda was packed with strategic engagements aimed at fostering global partnerships and integrating cutting-edge practices into Egyptian aviation.
The Minister’s meetings kicked off with Philippe Pascal, CEO of Groupe ADP, and Christelle de Robillard, CFO and Director of Strategy and Development at Groupe ADP. Discussions with the French aviation giant focused on aspects of joint cooperation for the Cairo International Airport development project. The goal is to leverage Groupe ADP’s extensive global expertise in design, management, and operations, ensuring the application of the latest sustainability and clean energy standards.
Following this, Dr. El-Hefny held an expanded meeting with officials from the Airports of Rome (ADR) Group. Here, they reviewed ADR’s successful experience in managing and operating Leonardo da Vinci International Airport. The conversation extended to exploring potential areas of cooperation in developing the infrastructure of Egyptian airports and significantly enhancing their operational efficiency.
The Minister then met with a delegation from the Dutch Royal Schiphol Group, the esteemed operator of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and several other European airports. Their discussion centered on collaborating in smart management, digitization, improving operational efficiency, and implementing environmental sustainability concepts across Egyptian airports.
In another crucial meeting, the Minister of Civil Aviation engaged with Serkan Kaptan, CEO of the Turkish company TAV Airports. This session explored opportunities for cooperation in the operation and maintenance of various Egyptian airports. The talks also delved into establishing a specialized training academy to qualify national cadres, localizing digital systems for airport management, and developing duty-free shops and commercial services.
Concluding his productive meetings, Dr. Sameh El-Hefny emphasized that the discussions in Paris mark a vital step toward implementing effective models of public-private partnerships in the management, operation, and development of Egyptian airports. This strategic approach aims to enhance performance efficiency and keep pace with rapid developments in the global air transport industry.
“We are currently working, in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the strategic advisor to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to offer the first Egyptian airports to the private sector for management and operation before the end of this year, with Hurghada International Airport being the first of these projects,” stated Dr. El-Hefny.
He further elaborated that the Ministry of Civil Aviation is steadfast in implementing an integrated national strategy. This strategy is geared towards developing Egyptian airports through international partnerships, technology transfer, and local capacity building. The ultimate objective is to significantly improve the travel experience, raise operational efficiency, and boost the competitiveness of Egyptian airports regionally and internationally.
Senior officials accompanying Minister El-Hefny during these meetings included Ambassador Alaa Youssef, Egypt’s Ambassador to France; Accountant Amani Metwally, Permanent Undersecretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation; and Pilot Amr El-Sharkawy, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority.
