Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt unveils plans to transform civil aviation sector and airports
Alamein, Egypt – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met today in Alamein with Dr. Sameh El-Hefny, Minister of Civil Aviation, and Mrs. Soheir Abdallah, Chairperson of EgyptAir Inflight Services, to review an ambitious strategic vision aimed at revitalizing Egypt’s civil aviation sector.
A spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency shared that the meeting focused on comprehensive modernization efforts covering air navigation, fleet expansion, airport development, and human resource capabilities. These efforts aim to enhance operational efficiency, increase passenger capacity, and improve service quality as Egypt seeks to attract 30 million tourists per year—a cornerstone of its Vision 2030 strategy.
President El-Sisi received an update on the “New Republic Air Gateway” project at Cairo International Airport’s Terminal 4. The new passenger terminal, expected to accommodate at least 30 million travelers and raise the airport’s total capacity to over 60 million passengers annually, will meet the highest international standards of safety, security, and environmental sustainability.
The President emphasized the importance of strengthening airport infrastructure through international partnerships centered on efficiency and sustainability, and encouraged increased participation from the private sector.
In this context, Minister El-Hefny outlined the national strategy developed in cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to involve private entities in operating and developing major airports, while safeguarding public ownership of Egypt’s vital assets. This ambitious plan will be finalized before summer 2025 and aims to upgrade operational efficiency and service quality across 11 key airports. Notably, Hurghada Airport is slated for private sector partnership by the end of 2025.
The meeting also addressed Egypt’s robust air navigation system, which has received praise from international organizations—including Eurocontrol, ICAO, and IATA—for managing rising air traffic during recent regional crises. With the closure of neighboring airspace, daily flights over Egypt have surged to more than 1,600, handled efficiently and safely by Egyptian air traffic controllers. Plans are underway to further develop Egyptian airspace, modernize radar systems, and upgrade communications infrastructure.
The session concluded with a celebration of EgyptAir’s significant achievements. For the first time, the national carrier was named “Best Airline Staff in Africa” for 2025 by Skytrax at the Paris Air Show, and also received awards for Best Economy Class Meals and Most Improved Airline in Africa— for the second consecutive year—as well as Best Cabin Crew in Africa.
EgyptAir advanced 20 spots to 68th place among the world’s top 100 airlines and plans to expand its fleet to 97 aircraft by 2028/2029. Dr. El-Hefny detailed ongoing upgrades in EgyptAir Inflight Services, including infrastructure enhancements, staff training, business lounge improvements, and adherence to strict international service standards.