Friday, October 29, 2010

Egypt buys three C295 aircraft from Airbus

The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of three C295 aircraft.


The aircraft are to be delivered from 2011 and will be used to increase the Egyptian Air Force’s capacity in tactical and logistic transport.
The Egyptian Air Force now becomes a new Airbus Military customer for the first time.

The Egyptian Air Force said it selected the C295 because of its ease of maintenance and proven operational capabilities, especially in desert areas. Furthermore, its versatility and adaptability to the most varied type of conditions and operations were another key element in the selection of the Airbus Military C295.
Today, 85 C295 have been ordered by 13 customers, 64 of which are being operated in 11 countries.
About the C295

Source

Monday, October 25, 2010

Aegean Airlines Cairo service Adjustments

Athens – Cairo 5 weekly service switches from Avro RJ85 to Airbus A320 with operational schedule changes.

A3930 ATH1140 – 1340CAI AR1 x15 -30OCT10
A3930 ATH0845 – 1050CAI 320 x23 31OCT10-
A3931 CAI1430 – 1640ATH AR1 x15 -30OCT10
A3931 CAI1135 – 1335ATH 320 x23 31OCT10-

Source

Hainan Airlines launch 2 weekly Beijing – Cairo service from Nov 2010

Hainan Airlines from 17NOV10 is launching 2 weekly Beijing – Cairo service on board Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The airline eventually plans to extend service to Algiers in the near future.
Schedule, which is loaded into the system on 30SEP10, as follows:

HU7941 PEK0030 – 0610CAI 330 35
HU7942 CAI0810 – 0050+1PEK 330 35

Source

KLM S11 Long-haul Operation Changes: Update 2

Amsterdam – Cairo Return of Boeing 747 service with -400COMBI: 74M Day 36 772 Day x36

Source

Egypt invites bids for air transport consultancy

The contract involves determining the risks and opportunities for Egypt Air

The Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (Ehcaan) is inviting consultants to submit bids by 15 November for a contract to provide services for an air transport policy of Egypt and strategic options.

The scope involves creating policy options for Egypt, an inventory of current bilateral air service agreements for Egypt, legal implications for further liberalisation of air services, expected market developments, risks and opportunities for Egypt’s national carrier and policy recommendation for the next 10 years.

The consultancy contract is due to be implemented in the first quarter of 2011 and will take seven months to carry out.

Ehcaan is also due to award a consultancy contract, which involves carrying out a detailed inventory of all airport-related fees and taxes and a traffic forecast. In a separate deal, Ehcaan also invited consultants to submit expressions of interest in developing new air traffic control infrastructure and management strategies for terminal two at Cairo International airport by 31 March. This contract was due to be implemented in the second quarter of 2010 (MEED 22:3:10).

Egypt is currently planning a $400m renovation of terminal two at Cairo International airport. Cairo Airport Company, a division of Ehcaan, prequalified six companies for the deal in August. Companies are invited to submit bids for the construction contract by 20 December.

 Source: Meed

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Egyptian Aviation Blog goes social!

Hi everybody!

Maybe you have already seen it. Egyptian Aviation Blog had a small make-over!
I've added new features like a Translation Gadget and several Social networking Gadgets.

So do you have a friend who is interested in (Egyptian) Aviation... Please share this blog with Facebook, Twitter etc.

I will add more features soon! I hope you like the changes.

Do you have questions, problems or you just want to say something? Contact at: egyptianaviation@gmail.com

Best Regards,

Karim Noaman.

Egypt Air to enhance Mumbai-Cairo service from Nov

MUMBAI: Cairo-based Egypt Air plans to enhance frequency of its services from the city from next month, a senior airline official said.

The airline currently operates four flights a week from Mumbai to Cairo. “We will be enhancing our flight frequency from Mumbai.

We will launch the fifth service on the Mumbai-Cairo sector from November 2,” Egypt Air’s General Manager (India), Mr Ahmed Wasfy, told reporters here on Thursday.

By end-2011, Egypt Air aims to operate a daily service from the city, he said. The airline operates a Boeing 737-800 aircraft in two configurations - economy and business class - on the India route.

Egypt Air, which operates in India only from Mumbai is also mulling connectivity from other cities such as Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, Wasfy said. “We are quite keen to operate from other Indian cities as well. However, we are waiting for airc raft deliveries. But whenever we expand in India, Delhi will be the first city,” he said.

Egypt Air presently has 65 aircraft in its fleet, a mix of both Airbus and Boeing. “Twelve more aircraft are on order and these are to be delivered to the airline by 2012,” he said. - PTI

Source

Egypt-Iran flights to resume after 30 year break

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt and Iran have agreed to resume direct flights between their capitals for the first time since 1979, Egypt's ministry of civil aviation said on Monday, but an official played down any chance of a political thaw.

The two countries severed ties in 1980 following Iran's Islamic revolution and Egypt's recognition of Israel.

Sameh Hefni, head of Egypt's civil aviation authority, and Hamid Ghavabesh, deputy chief of the Iranian national aviation company, signed an agreement providing for up to 28 flights between Cairo and Tehran per week, the ministry said in a statement. No start date for the flights was given.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hosam Zaki said the deal strengthened existing economic ties between the two countries, but added that political ties were a different matter.

"It is a development in the relations between Egypt and Iran," Zaki told Reuters. "Both countries have economic interests that have not stopped regardless of the political situation.

"But political developments require certain conditions Egypt has voiced in the past," he added.

The two countries are at odds on a number of issues including the Middle East peace process and ties with Israel and the United States. The deal was struck as Iran faces pressure from international economic sanctions.

Egypt is upset with Iran for continuing to praise Khaled Islamboli, who assassinated President Anwar Sadat in 1981 following the peace deal with Israel.

The two regional powers, predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran and mainly Sunni Egypt, have competed for influence in the Middle East.

(Writing and reporting by Marwa Awad; editing by David Stamp)

Source

Heading north

The national carrier has re-launched its service to Copenhagen after six years of suspension. Amirah Ibrahim joined the opening flight to the Danish capital; the only direct service between Africa and Scandinavia

Click to view caption

The flight took off from Cairo International without the usual fanfare when an airline launches a new service, neither at the airport nor onboard. A delegation headed by Marketing Manager Magda Metwali and Planning Manager Hussein El-Sherif joined the flight which left at 10 am. It took almost four and half hours to reach Copenhagen. Egyptian Ambassador to Denmark Nabil Habashi and his wife welcomed the passengers at the tube gate. However, due to bad luck, we were only able to leave the airport at 5pm due to tough security procedures. The delegation had to drop off all printed publications they brought to use at a cocktail reception.

A short briefing took place at the airport while watching the Egyptian plane being showered with water by fire fighting vehicles as it was getting ready for the return flight to Cairo.

Speaking to Al-AhramWeekly, Ambassador Habashi indicated that there are an estimated 2500 Egyptians who live in Denmark, and that the route represented a boon to the work of the Egyptian mission. "It would certainly facilitate the transfer of Arabs and Africans who live in Copenhagen in large numbers," explained Habashi. "As for Muslims, the new route will serve Muslim Europeans who want to perform Hajj and Omra, not only from Denmark but from all Scandinavian countries," he added. According to Habashi, about 70-80,000 Arabs and 30-40,000 Africans live in Denmark.

Six years ago, the Copenhagen route had to be suspended along with 14 other international destinations to stop loss bleeding. A comprehensive study found out that those routes only captured 5% of market traffic. "We are definite not going to repeat the mistakes of the past," replied EgyptAir Airline Chairman and CEO Captain Alaa Ashour. "The route had been previously served with two flights weekly, one was operated via Stockholm. This is not what European passengers want, as they prefer to fly direct flights," Ashour told the Weekly in Cairo.

Ashour also indicated that the route relied mainly on tourists which could not help it to survive. "Tourists prefer to use charter flights to Red Sea resorts and we do not have intentions to compete with charter business. Now with Cairo International a hub and with EgyptAir expanding the fleet, we target different categories of passengers," he explained. EgyptAir, is planning to increase hub traffic passing through its new T3 terminal at Cairo airport from 4-6 per cent last year to 30 per cent by the end of 2011.

"We are negotiating a code share agreement with SAS which will boost the business of the airline in European and African markets,' Ashour added.

The new route is currently served with three weekly flights, on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday departing from Copenhagen at 3:45pm and from Cairo at 10:00am. The airline uses the B737 with the 24 business seats and 120 economy seats.

"With Egypt Air's extensive route network, this route opens up not only all of Egypt, but destinations such as South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and the Middle East," explained Magda Metwali, the airline marketing manager. "The route has high potential considering the fact that Copenhagen acts as a hub for Scandinavian countries. We plan to add a fourth flight in April but by the end of 2011 the route will be served with five flights weekly," Metwali added.

Traffic flow between Copenhagen and Cairo is estimated to be 80,000 in total and EgyptAir will undoubtedly be looking to capture traffic from Scandinavia to Africa.

On the other hand, SAS stopped flying to Cairo in 2006, as did Cimber Sterling airline, so the sky seems clear of competitors.

A closer look at the airline schedules shows a clear lack of competition in the Africa-Scandinavia sector. Three airlines operate one weekly flight each on a charter base to Hurghada, Marrakesh and Tunis. All three are leisure-based operators serving leisure markets, which will not be a threat for EgyptAir.

Ashour indicated that all new routes were to operate through a General Sales Agent (GSA) to avoid extra costs. "It is really good news. International accessibility through direct routes to and from overseas destinations is vital for Danish industry," commented Ibrahim Ramadan, EgyptAir GSA Denmark. "Accessibility to these destinations and Cairo in particular is thus strengthened significantly, which is of great benefit to securing Danish business interests in Egypt, and also for the Danish business community in general," Ramadan explained.

Copenhagen airport calls itself 'Scandinavia's Hub'and serves as a Star Alliance hub for the main operating carrier SAS. That status is currently being strengthened as two other Star members, Air Canada and EgyptAir, are operating.

According to Carsten Norland, Vice President Sales Copenhagen airport, the new direct route closes an important gap in the route network from Copenhagen Airport. "This is the only direct flight that connects our airport to Africa, we are so pleased to have Egyptian flights back," he commented.

"We see big potential for this route as Africa is an ill-served market for us," added Norland. "A direct route to Cairo will not only boost the Copenhagen to Cairo market but also African-bound traffic due to Cairo's connectivity to the African continent."

The airline currently flies to 16 destinations in Africa, and has plans to add two new African destinations by early November 2010.

Source

Oman Air A330 to Cairo from Dec 2010 to Feb 2011

Oman Air from 18DEC10 to 15FEB11 is introducing Airbus A330-300 service on Muscat – Cairo, operating twice a week. The 3-class A330-300 on this route will only be available for reservation in Business and Economy class, as per 18OCT10 GDS timetable display.

Schedule below:

WY403 MCT0920 – 1200CAI 333 26
WY403 MCT0920 – 1140CAI 738 4
WY401 MCT1200 – 1440CAI 738 x246

WY404 CAI1230 – 1820MCT 738 4
WY404 CAI1315 – 1900MCT 332 26
WY402 CAI1600 – 2145MCT 738 x246

Source

EGYPTAIR to start LOT Polish Codeshare service on Warsaw – Cairo

EGYPTAIR from 28OCT10 is placing its “MS” code on LOT Polish Airlines’ Warsaw – Cairo route.

Codeshare flight numbers below:

Route MS Codeshare LO Operating
Cairo – Warsaw MS9514 LO115
Warsaw – Cairo MS9515 LO116


Source

Cairo Airport and their new 4000 meter toy

Cairo Airport has opened their new 4000 meter runway. This runways is capable for next generation heavy airplane's like the Airbus A380. This new runway has all modern equipment like ILS systems.

Cairo Airport had to change the runway codes because of the new 3rd parallel runway. The new runway is called: 05R/25L


The first part of this video is about the new runway:



May this new runway have many safe take-offs and landings... Congratulations Cairo Airport!

Alexandria Borg el Arab New Airport Terminal Ready To Open!

After months of delays Borg El Arab new Airport Terminal is finally done! It wil soon receive flights. The future plan is to relocate Alexandria El Nouzha Airport flights to Borg El Arab Airport for an extensive renovation of El Nouzha Airport. The plan is to make El Nouzha Airport an airport for Domestic flights and Borg el Arab for International flights.

Some info from Wikipedia about Borg el Arab's New airport terminal:

Borg El Arab is planned to become the principal airport of Alexandria from December 2010 when all traffic is transferred from Alexandria International Airport (currently Alexandria's busiest airport) which will close for two years while undergoing a major re-development program.

Borg El Arab Airport is undergoing a major expansion in terms of the airport's passenger and cargo handling capacity in response to growing demand and the new facilities are expected to become operational from the fourth quarter of 2010.

The airport will consist of a new passenger building and an administration building. The passenger terminal is designed in the shape of a boat and consists of three floors:

  • Ground floor: allocated for checking in and luggage handling.
  • Second floor: allocated for arrivals, both domestic and international, in addition to administrative offices and airlines offices.
  • Third floor: allocated for departures, both domestic and international, immigration procedures and a VIP hall. Commercial activities are spread among the three floors.
  • Four airbridges will connect the terminal building to aircraft.

The terminal will contain a duty free shop, a franchise food court, an area dedicated for travel offices and other travel-related services, a fuel supply unit, a control tower, and a fire station available to cover emergencies on site. Also a parking area on the building's front will provide space for 350 vehicles.

The estimated cost of the modernization plan is $120 million and is expected to be complete by summer 2010.

The airport has the capacity to handle 1.2 million passengers per year becoming an adequate replacement to Alexandria International Airport, which will shut down in summer 2010 for a two year period while the airport's facilities are overhauled. During this time all airlines operating to Alexandria will transfer to Borg El Arab Airport.

Youtube video's of the new terminal:

Congratulations Borg El Arab Airport!



EgyptAir takes delivery of 3th B777-300 for New York service

Posted on 18 October 2010 in Air Transport

EgyptAir received its Thirth new Boeing 777-300ER - and the 69th aircraft in its fleet - earlier today.

Captain Alaa Ashour, EgyptAir Chairman and CEO, accompanied by Abdel Aziz Fadel, the chairman of EgyptAir engineering and other top officials welcomed the new aircraft when it landed at Cairo International airport.

Captain Alaa Ashour expressed his happiness with the arrival of the new aircraft saying, “With the arrival of this aircraft we our customers will be able to enjoy the luxury, comfort and exclusivity on our daily non-stop service to New York JFK.”

Hussein Massoud, the Chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Holding Company stated that “Today is another milestone in the process of continuous modernization of our fleet which goes in harmony with the overall modernization strategy of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The target of this strategy is to provide optimum travel services to and from Egypt".

Source


(This article is edited by me because the original article says it's EgyptAir's 4th 777-300ER and it's their 3rd actually)

Saturday, October 16, 2010

EGYPTAIR launch 777-300ER service to New York from 18OCT10

Per 15OCT10 GDS timetable display, EGYPTAIR starting Monday 18OCT10 is introducing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft service on Cairo – New York JFK, replacing -200ER. (13 days earlier than planned)

With the introduction of -300ER model, First Class service will be terminated, with newly revamped Business Class and other inflight products.

Source

Friday, October 15, 2010

EGYPTAIR Latest changes to Bangkok and Guangzhou as of 15OCT10

From 15DEC10, EGYPTAIR is to operate NONSTOP Cairo – Guangzhou service, replacing 1-stop service via Bangkok. As a result, Cairo – Bangkok will operate as Daily terminator flight.

Both route operates with Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.

Latest schedule as per 15OCT10 GDS timetable display as follows:

Cairo – Bangkok
MS960 CAI2240 – 1200+1BKK 777 D
MS961 BKK0050 – 0555CAI 777 D

Cairo – Guangzhou
MS958 CAI2315 – 1500+1CAN 777 x247
MS959 CAN2330 – 0555+1CAI 777 x135

Source

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

More wings

Airbus and Boeing land in Cairo, reports Amirah Ibrahim

The national carrier is expanding its fleet with more new Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The carrier received its first Airbus A330-300 aircraft from the manufacturer's facility in Toulouse, France, two weeks ago. Being one of five aircraft ordered by EgyptAir at a total cost of $800 million, the other four A330 are under delivery by the end of 2011. "By then, the fleet is set to reach 72 aircraft," explained Alaa Ashour, EgyptAir Airline chairman. Powered by Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines, the aircraft seats 301 passengers; with 265 in Economy Class and 36 in Business Class.

The national carrier at present operates an Airbus fleet of 17 A320 family aircraft, seven A330-200s and three A340-200s. The new A330- 300 will be the first EgyptAir aircraft to feature onboard communications technology, enabling passengers to benefit from inflight mobile phone services and WI-FI internet access.

"This delivery is an important milestone in the history of EgyptAir .We will continue to bring the latest to our customers who deserve this premium and highly competitive product" stated Hussein Massoud, chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Holding Company. "We are determined on the ambitious plan for fleet expansion and modernisation," he added.

According to Ashour, who flew the new aircraft himself to Cairo, the delivery of the first Airbus 330- 300 will add value to airline customers. "Passengers can now use these innovative services including the unparalleled comfort of the A330 cabin whilst the airline will benefit from the excellent reliability and economics offered," he explained. "The ongoing expansion of the fleet helps our plans to expand the network and boost services offered. The new aircraft will serve on African and European routes which we have great focus on," he added.

On the other hand, Airbus Customer Service rep John Leahy indicated that the Airbus aircraft shared a unique cockpit and operational system allowing airlines to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance engineers, for greater operational flexibility and significant cost savings.

The A330 is one of the most widely used widebody aircraft in service today. Over 700 A330s have already been delivered and the aircraft is currently flying with over 80 operators worldwide.

By early October, the national carrier is set to resume receiving two new Boeing aircraft, B737-800 and B777, as part of eight aircraft ordered and scheduled to be completely delivered by mid 2011

Source

Afriqiyah Airways W10 Network Changes

Tripoli – Cairo eff 31OCT10 Airbus A320 replace A330, 5 weekly

Source

Lufthansa plans year-round Munich – Cairo service

Once again Lufthansa is offering Munich – Cairo service with Privatair Boeing 737-800 aircraft, effective 31OCT10. Service operates 4 times a week.

In addition, as per 07OCT10 GDS timetable display, service is to operate year-round.

Schedule below:

LH586 MUC0930 – 1425CAI 73H x135
LH587 CAI1530 – 1845MUC 73H x135

Source

Never too old

Cairo International airport is adding a new facility and upgrading capacity, Amirah Ibrahim reports

Click to view caption
Cairo Airport TB1 gets a makeover; Shafiq and top aides inspect the new facility

By 2013, Cairo International will get an absolutely different new look as a comprehensive process to upgrade, modernise and improve its performance is undergoing. A new facility is almost completed and due to host 3000 vehicles acting as the new Car Park of the old airport.

"Almost 75 per cent of construction works have been completed. And despite a three month delay, the airport will get a state of the art car park by early 2011. We are satisfied with the work done," commented Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafiq as he inspected construction works of the new facility.

The LE 220 million construction has been situated near the airport's new terminal building TB3, taking its typical design and colour. It consists of four floors each occupying a space of 18,000 square metres.

According to Shafiq, the new facility is completely controlled by a computerised network which provides advanced techniques to guide vehicles from the entrance to free places. Professional operators will be invited to an open tender to operate the park. The new park will be served by shuttle bus and automated people- mover services transferring passengers through the airport's three terminal buildings.

"The airport will be served through a number of free services that don't aim to be profitable. Such services help passengers transfer smoothly to and from the airport, particularly transit passengers who we will target in the coming phase of the developing project," stated Ibrahim Manaa, head of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation. According to Manaa, the LE 650 APM is scheduled to operate by the middle of 2011.

A new seasonal terminal building is set to be constructed in 2011 to serve seasonal peak traffic in the airport, in particular, during Omrah and Hajj seasons which usually interrupt airport operations. According to Mannaa, the new terminal building is estimated to cost LE135 million and will hopefully be ready to serve by mid-2011.

"We are studying the possibility to build a modernised firefighting unit within the airport and operate it by our professional and well trained technicians who are qualified to fight airport fires where time and safety are highly valued," revealed Shafiq. Fire fighting in Egypt is one of the responsibilities of the Interior Ministry.

On the other hand, Cairo International at present is due for an upgrade which includes establishing a new transit hotel at a cost of LE500 million and a 350 room capacity. A new goods village is under construction costing some LE348 million. Both projects are set to be completed by mid-2012.

Cairo International will add more three million passengers per annum by the end of 2013 as it conducts an upgrade of its TB2 to expand its capacity from 4.5 million passengers to 7.5 million passengers. The new upgrade is estimated to cost LE2.3 billion.

Source

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Egypt to manufacture first fighter, drone plane: MENA

CAIRO, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Egypt is set to produce its first fighter and drone "in cooperation with a foreign side", official MENA news agency reported on Saturday.

"Talks and negotiations are underway about a project to produce Egypt's first fighter and drone plane," MENA quoted Lt. General Hamdy Waheba, Chairman of Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), Egypt's state-owned company specialized in producing civilian goods as well as military products.

The official did not name the foreign party which will take a hand at the process.

"Local production of the aircraft will meet the demand of the Egyptian Armed Forces, as it will be sold at a very competitive price," Waheba added.

The AOI was established in 1975 with the aim of building an advanced technology industrial base.

Egypt is one the major Arab countries dependent on importing military fighters from the United States and Russia.

Source

Friday, October 1, 2010

EGYPTAIR drops plan of A330 service to Bangkok/Guangzhou in W10

As per 30SEP10 GDS timetable display, EGYPTAIR has canceled its plan to operate Airbus A330-200 aircraft on 4 weekly Cairo – Bangkok – Guangzhou service during selected periods in Winter 2010 season.

Boeing 777-200ER to continue operate this route.

The Star carrier in the past 4 weeks has been shifting operating aircraft back-and-forth between A330 and 777 on this route.