National air carrier adds 28 aircraft to its fleet at the Dubai Air Show
By Mohamed Attia
EgyptAir, headed by Engineer Yahya Zakaria, continued its development plans and support for its fleet and reach new points during 2023, in accordance with the instructions of Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Abbas Helmy.
The company’s development plans were clearly evident at 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 Lease Corporation through the operating lease system for 18 new Boeing B737-8MAX aircraft.
This contract is the first between Air Lease Corporation and EgyptAir, and the Boeing B737-8 MAX is the first addition to EgyptAir’s fleet. The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered starting in 2025, with the remaining aircraft to be delivered successively by the end of 2026.
EgyptAir also announced at the Dubai Air Show the signing of a new deal to purchase 10 A350-900 aircraft. The A350-900 aircraft, when added to the company’s fleet, helps to reduce fuel consumption by 25 per cent, thus reducing carbon emissions from flights. Passengers on board these aircraft enjoy the best travel experiences thanks to the distinctive AirSpace cabin from Airbus, which provides ample luggage space and other amenities.
With the completion of this deal, the total number of aircraft of the national company will reach 108 by the end of 2026, compared to 80 aircraft currently operating in EgyptAir’s fleet, including 42 aircraft of various Boeing models.
The Dubai Airshow also witnessed the signing of an agreement to maintain and repair some of EgyptAir’s aircraft units at Honeywell.
The agreement was signed by Engineer Walid El-Khafif, Chairman of EgyptAir Maintenance and Engineering, and Ryan Liz, President of After-Sales Services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia at Honeywell.
The agreement came within the framework of EgyptAir’s efforts to maintain the safety of its aircraft, in the first place, with a company of the size of Honeywell to provide maintenance services for some aircraft units to ensure the continued operation of the aircraft fleet at the highest level of quality and efficiency, taking care of the safety and comfort of passengers.
A new agreement was also signed between the Saudi Academy in Jeddah and EgyptAir Airlines to use the B787 Dreamliner flight simulator. EgyptAir currently has seven of these aircraft, and the eighth aircraft is expected to be delivered in early 2024, which requires increasing the number of pilots qualified to fly this modern model.
During 2023, the company also sought to follow all air safety standards, the latest of which was passing the risk assessment for all company activities in cooperation with the American company GHS. The review was conducted on all activities related to insurance, safety, and aircraft maintenance carried out by the EgyptAir Holding Company and its subsidiaries.
GHS confirmed that EgyptAir is implementing all activities in accordance with the safety regulations and legislation in force from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority and are consistent with the best practices of the aviation industry.
EgyptAir also announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Rolls-Royce to provide comprehensive engine care, which includes maintenance of 20 Trent XWB-84 engines that operate the fleet of aircraft that the company recently contracted for from the Airbus A350-900 model. The agreement enables EgyptAir to predict and quantify the cost of fleet services and maintenance.
EgyptAir also signed an agreement with Panasonic Avionics for in-flight entertainment and communications systems to operate the Astrova program, which is considered a revolution in the field of aviation, on its new Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
With the implementation of this agreement, EgyptAir becomes the first airline in Africa to choose the Astrova system. It will be applied in business class with OLED screens measuring 19 inches, and in economy class with screens measuring 12 inches. Panasonic’s connectivity services will also be operated on all A350 aircraft belonging to the company.
Astrova is an in-flight entertainment system that enhances the opportunities for airlines to interact with their passengers. It will create an exceptional experience for EgyptAir passengers through screens with the best display quality and clarity, in addition to high-fidelity sound that can be accessed through Panasonic Bluetooth technology.
Passengers will also be able to obtain a continuous current of up to 100 watts directly through a USB-C port in their seat, which will allow for fast charging of all smartphones and about 90 per cent of laptops in the world. The new Astrova in-flight entertainment system also features programmable LED lighting that will enhance the experience of passengers on EgyptAir flights.
The EgyptAir Training Academy has also succeeded in renewing the accreditation of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the A320 neo /ceo flight simulator. The European agency delegation praised the efficiency of the flight simulator and the maintenance, updating and quality reviews that are carried out on it to keep the device in line with the latest local and international regulations.
In 2023, EgyptAir launched a number of flights around the world, including the first direct flight to Port Sudan, which carried 120 passengers. The new route was launched after the airspace was opened to eastern Sudan, supporting the company’s ambitious expansion plan in Africa.
The international airport of São Paulo, Brazil, also welcomed the first direct flight from Cairo to São Paulo, operated by EgyptAir’s newest aircraft, the B787-9 Dreamliner. This is the first flight of its kind in the company’s history, and EgyptAir will operate a special flight to São Paulo every two weeks. EgyptAir has also recently added Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Newark, New Jersey, to its network.
The company also announced that it will launch its latest flights to Manchester, England, in July, as well as to Delhi, India and Shanghai, China. These new routes represent additional expansion points for EgyptAir’s network in Asia and Europe, and serve new customers around the world.
On the other hand, the Free Zones Company, headed by Dr Saad Maabad, has also undergone a comprehensive development plan at all levels. After a period of noticeable decline due to the spread of the Corona virus and its negative impact on all sectors and civil aviation companies, the company began a recovery plan. The most important of these was the activation of the digital system starting from last July, which was postponed for more than two years due to the spread of Covid-19.
The new Sap system is a digital revolution in the Free Zones Company, with the primary goal of providing excellent service to passengers while providing goods at the free zones outlets on a permanent basis, giving a good impression to the customer, a guest of Egypt, about the national company and Egypt in general.
The Air Cairo company also announced the opening of new air routes to the cities of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and Dakar, Senegal, with two weekly flights to each destination. This is in line with the axes of the Egyptian state and the priorities of its national development agenda to expand its air network and open new points with countries of the African continent. This contributes to the activation of incoming air traffic and the development of the volume of trade and economic exchange between Egypt and all countries of the world.
