Minister of Civil Aviation: A comprehensive strategic plan to develop Cairo Airport. And offering Egyptian airports to investment
Dr. Sameh El-Hafny, Minister of Civil Aviation, confirmed that the Ministry is implementing a comprehensive strategic plan to develop and modernize the civil aviation system in Egypt, which includes developing Cairo International Airport and Egyptian airports, and preparing the infrastructure to accommodate the expected growth in the movement of passengers and goods, in line with the aspirations of the Egyptian state towards building a smart integrated transport network linking air, sea and land.
The Minister explained, during his meeting with the editors The Civil Aviation Sector at Sphinx International Airport said that the studies for Terminal 4 at Cairo International Airport aim to raise the airport’s capacity to about 30 million passengers annually, noting that the general plan for the airport includes the establishment of an integrated cargo city (Cargo City) with an initial capacity of one million tons annually, with the possibility of increasing it in the future to 2 million tons, in parallel with the implementation of the new passenger building. He added that the development plan includes unifying the visual identity of Terminals 2, 3, and 4 to achieve a unified, civilized appearance for the airport, in addition to comprehensive development of the infrastructure and increasing the operational capacity of Terminals 2 and 3, and improving passenger services and the airport’s internal and external traffic plan, in order to achieve operational integration that serves passengers and workers alike.
He stressed that The estimated cost of constructing the new Passenger Terminal No. 4 at Cairo International Airport is about $3.5 billion, which will be self-financed through a partnership between the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation and a number of national entities, with the implementation process taking about four years. He added that Cairo International Airport recently received international awards for being one of the largest airports in Africa in terms of the number of passengers and air cargo traffic, noting that the sector is witnessing a state of harmony and integration between companies operating in the civil aviation system.
With regard to the Egyptian airports development plan, the Minister explained that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is currently working on preparing detailed studies to develop 11 airports. Egyptian, in preparation for presenting it to international companies specialized in managing and operating airports in accordance with international best practices. He pointed out that the mechanism being worked on includes multiple alternatives, including a full management and operation system or concession, as part of the state’s direction to involve the private sector in developing infrastructure, raising the operational efficiency and profitability of Egyptian airports, and reducing the investment burden on the state. The minister revealed that Hurghada International Airport will be the first stage within the offering plan for international investment, as it is one of the largest and most active tourist airports in receiving incoming tourist traffic to Egypt.
He added that the ministry has begun implementing a proactive initiative to attract investors in light of the intense regional competition in the air transport market, noting that during the coming period the door for applications for the initial offering (RFQ) will be opened to international companies specialized in the field of management. And operating the airports, provided that the evaluation is carried out in a transparent and professional manner in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
He explained that the next stages will include a comprehensive financial and administrative examination, then the signing of official contracts after meeting the technical standards, adding that the full timetable for the offering procedures extends from 12 to 14 months, while ensuring that the rights of the state and investors are preserved individually. Both.
He pointed out that the Ministry is studying the best organizational and administrative mechanisms to implement the new partnership models, so that each airport has a financial arm, a construction arm, and a management and operating arm, in order to achieve objective competition and raise the quality of services provided to passengers at the level of hub airports. Al-Hafny also explained that the Egyptian airport sector is witnessing unprecedented profits according to the indicators of business results for the fiscal year 2024/ 2025.
In another context, the Minister of Civil Aviation explained that the Ministry is implementing a plan to restructure Egyptian airspace, which includes redistributing air routes to reduce distances traveled and flight times, which contributes to reducing fuel consumption and reducing carbon emissions, and enhances Egypt’s ability to attract more air traffic passing over its airspace. He pointed out that this step comes within an integrated vision for infrastructure development. For air surveillance and navigation using the latest international systems and technologies, ensuring operational efficiency and air safety at the same time. Regarding the performance of the national company EgyptAir, the Minister confirmed that the company witnessed a noticeable and tangible improvement in performance and service indicators, whether in air hospitality, meals or restrooms, as well as achieving high levels of regularity in operation compared to previous years. He pointed out that (28) aircraft are expected to join the EgyptAir fleet during the coming period. Which supports expansion plans and increasing international and regional destinations. El-Hafny confirmed that EgyptAir, in cooperation with an international consulting company, has developed a plan to restructure EgyptAir’s fleet in line with the needs of the global market, and aims to double the size of the fleet within four years, making EgyptAir among the best airlines in terms of performance and operational efficiency.
He revealed that all EgyptAir companies have achieved unprecedented profits, Pointing out that all activities, whether air services, duty-free shops, ground services, air freight and maintenance, recorded record levels of profits thanks to the efforts of the good management policy and coordination and harmony between the various companies affiliated with the Ministry.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister of Civil Aviation sent a message of thanks and appreciation to workers in the civil aviation sector, stressing that the spirit of cooperation and harmony between the affiliated companies was behind this surge in performance. And the results. The Minister of Civil Aviation said that the Ministry is continuing to develop the training and qualification system for the human element, noting that the Egyptian civil aviation sector is one of the state’s strongest and most competitive sectors in the region, and stressing that the Ministry is working in a single team spirit to achieve the state’s vision of Egypt becoming a leading regional center in the field of air transport and logistics services.
