Egyptian Aviation Blog: January 2010

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Egyptair's new 777-300ER Routes

EGYPTAIR 777-300ER Routes

As per 14JAN10 GDS timetable display, EGYPTAIR’s brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft is to be introduced on following routes :

Cairo – London Heathrow MS777/778 01APR10 – 31AUG10
Cairo – Tokyo effective 02MAY10

The 777-300ER is configured in Business and Economy Class only.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Egypt agrees to buy up to 24 US F-16 fighters

Egypt agrees to buy up to 24 US F-16 fighters
Wed, Dec 30 01:39 AM

Egypt clinched a deal with the U.S government last week to buy 20 advanced Lockheed Martin Corp F-16C/D fighter aircraft valued at $1.6 billion, the U.S. Defense Department said Tuesday.

The first of the new batch, known as block 50/52, are expected to be delivered in early 2012, a spokesman for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

The Pentagon told Congress in October that Egypt was seeking as many as 24 F-16C/D block 50/52 models. It said at the time the deal could be worth $3.2 billion, including base construction, support equipment and other hardware and services.

The U.S.-Egyptian agreement was signed Dec. 23 and covered strictly the F-16s, associated equipment and logistical support, said Paul Ebner, the spokesman.

The rest of the possible arms package for Egypt was still subject to negotiations, he said.

The Egyptian embassy did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the reason for buying 20 F-16s rather than the 24 Cairo originally had requested.

George Standridge, Lockheed Aeronautics' vice president for business development, said in a telephone interview that Lockheed now awaits a U.S. government contract for the addition to Egypt's existing F-16 fleet.

Former President George W. Bush's administration is widely reported to have withheld updated F-16s and certain other advanced weapons because of Egypt's human rights record and democracy issues, as well as out of concern for maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge.

Egypt has been flying the F-16 since 1982. It has received 220 of them, after decades of chiefly using military hardware built by the former Soviet Union.

The new agreement marks the 53rd time an F-16 customer has returned for a new batch, said Joe Stout, a Lockheed spokesman.

Last week, Lockheed was awarded an $841.8 million contract to continue building 24 new F-16C/D Block 52 fighters for Morocco, the 25th nation to buy the F-16, the world's most widely flown fighter.

The administration of President Barack Obama told Congress in October that the F-16 sale would greatly enhance Egypt's "interoperability" with U.S. forces.

This would make it a more valuable partner in the Middle East as well as support Egypt's own self-defense needs, the security cooperation agency said.

Great Cairo airport article: Hoping for Hubbing

Cairo Airport (CAI) is one part of Egypt’s aviation sector that is centrally administered by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The airport - along with others in the country - is part of the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports & Air Navigation, with CAI specifically run by the Cairo Airport Company. Operations and planning are done by Fraport AG which holds a 12-year management contract that was awarded in 2004..... Read more

New Egyptian Airport in Sohag

Sohag Governor in Egypt Mr. Mohsen el-Noami reported that Egypt government is keen on building the new airport as the Egyptian President Mubarak promised the people of Sohag

Despite the crises of high prices, bread queues and shortages in diesel fuel, Egypt’s government has allocated LE 250 million for the new airport.
Handing over alternative land lots to farmers affected by the airport project in the Egyptian village 'Beit Khallaf' in the western desert of Gerga, Noami said that the airport is a gift from Egypt’s President Mubarak to the people of Sohag, and that the Prime Minister and ministers of agriculture, irrigation, housing and civil aviation are keen on building it.
The farmers would get 50% more of the land they had before, i.e. one and a half acres for every acre they owned.
There were certain people behind the recent demonstrations by farmers before the Bar Association in Cairo in order to stop the project for their personal interests he said, adding that this was friendly fire, considering they were misinformed, and stressing that the Egyptian President Mubarak is applying social justice to all Egyptians.
"The State is squeezed and resources are limited," he concluded

Sharm el Sheik Terminal 3

Only two years after it opened its second terminal building, the airport authority decided to take a step forward to expand its capacity by doubling it. Last Thursday, the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (HCAAN) came to sign a contract with Spanish construction designers Pointec for a third terminal at the Red Sea resort.

According to Ibrahim Manaa, chairman of the HCAAN, the new terminal takes the total capacity of the airport from 7.5 million to 15 million passengers per annum.

"The project's primary costs are estimated at $350 million," stated Manaa in a signing ceremony in Cairo attended by Spain's Ambassador to Egypt Antonio Lopez. "The design phase is due to be completed within a year. International contractors then will be invited for an open tender to construct the terminal. It is scheduled to be completely constructed by 2012," he explained.

The project includes constructing a new terminal building for passengers, a new runway, and a new tarmac for aircrafts.

In May 2007, Sharm El-Sheikh airport celebrated operating its state-of-the-art terminal with a unique design that mixes Bedouin heritage with marine life characters. The terminal took airport capacity from 3 million to 7.5 millon passengers per annum.

"By the end of 2008, figures of traffic within airport hit a record of 7 million passengers which rang a warning alarm for us that we are about to face an overcapacity problem soon. Thus we launched the second stage of the expansion project," Manaa indicated.

He added that forecasts indicated that passenger movement within Sharm El-Sheikh airports would hit 12 million passengers within the next few years.

Air Arabia, Travco to launch budget airline in Egypt

CAIRO: Air Arabia, a low-cost carrier based in the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt’s Travco Group entered into a joint venture to launch a new budget airline.

The Egyptian carrier will be Air Arabia’s third hub — after the UAE and Morocco — serving Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the airline said in a statement.

Operations of the low-cost carrier will be managed by the Air Arabia Group.

The Arab world's largest listed airline by market value already flies to 57 destinations.

Air Arabia, said in August it planned to set up a new hub between its base at Sharjah, United Arab Emirates and North Africa to diversify its revenues and boost its catchment area, Reuters reported.

Egyptian tourist company Travco recently acquired Germany's Steigenberger Hotels as part of efforts to expand its international operations.

The company operates 146 hotels, resorts and cruises in Europe, Egypt and the Middle East, including the management of 81 Steigenberger and InterCity hotels.

Generating over €1 billion in revenues, Travco has two real estate developments on Egypt’s North Coast and the Red Sea.

Air Arabia, which first launched in 2003, operates a fleet of 20 Airbus A320 aircraft and recently ordered 44 more.

The airline is facing growing competition from local rivals including Kuwait's Jazeera Airways and Dubai-owned flydubai, as well as from fully-fledged carriers such as Emirates, struggling to cope with a sharp drop in international passenger travel, Reuters reported. –Daily News Egypt

Source: http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/art...rticleID=24428

Egyptair Timetable changes

EGYPTAIR extra Budapest service W09

EGYPTAIR has added extra 1 weekly frequency on Sunday on the Cairo – Budapest – Hurghada service, which operates until 27MAR10. Schedule as follows:

MS3921 CAI1400 – 1635BUD E70 7

MS3922 BUD1720 – 2205HRG E70 7

EGYPTAIR postpone frequency increase to Tokyo

As per 07JAN10 GDS timetable display, EGYPTAIR’s planned increase from 3 to 6 weekly on Cairo – Tokyo route, has been postponed till 31AUG10. Previously it plan to increase the flight from 31May 2010

EGYPTAIR increase Osaka from Jun 10

As per 22DEC09 GDS timetable display, EGYPTAIR is increasing Osaka service to 4 weekly from 03JUN10. This is an overall increase from 3 weekly compared to Winter 09/10 and 2 in Summer 09. With the increase, inbound service into Luxor increases from 1 to 2 weekly.

Schedule as follows:

MS962 CAI0001 – 1730KIX 340 x136
MS963 KIX2145 – 0600+1LXR0650+1 – 0800+1CAI 340 25
MS963 KIX2325 – 0700+1CAI 340 47

EGYPTAIR 2010 Summer Long-Haul highlight

Cairo – Bangkok Airbus A330 replace Boeing 777

Cairo – Bangkok – Guangzhou Airbus A330 replace Boeing 777

Cairo – Frankfurt 30MAR10 – 30MAY10 / 01OCT10 – A330 replace 737-800 on Day x1

Cairo – London Heathrow MS777/778 A330 replace 777 from 01SEP10. (Total 8 weekly A330)

Cairo – Milan Malpensa Increase from 8 to 15 weekly from 01JUN10. Schedule of new flight:
MS743 CAI2225 – 0120+1MXP 738 D
MS744 MXP0220 – 0700CAI 738 D 02JUN10-

Cairo – Osaka Service Increase from 3 to 4 weekly

Cairo – Tokyo Boeing 777 replace A340 from 28MAR10. Service Increase from 3 to 6 weekly from 31MAY10

EGYPTAIR doubles Tokyo service in 2010

EGYPTAIR from 31MAY10 is doubling service on the Cairo – Tokyo Narita route from 3 to 6 weekly. Operating aircraft is switching from Airbus A340 to Boeing 777 (assuming -300ER), which sees extra 60-80 seats per flight.

EGYPTAIR A330 to Bangkok/Guangzhou S10

As per 18DEC09 GDS timetable display, EGYPTAIR from 28MAR10 is to operate Airbus A330 aircraft on 4 weekly Cairo – Bangkok – Guangzhou and 3 weekly Cairo – Bangkok service. The A330 is replacing Boeing 777.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Hurghada Airport New Terminal

Hurghada airport has rapidly growing passenger numbers. Building a new terminal and a 4000meters runways is a good and needed addition for this airport.

Construction of a new terminal at a cost of $300 million with an annual passenger capacity of 7.5 million. The planned opening date is 2012/2013.
Construction of a second 4,000m runway.

Terminal renders:

New Borg el Arab Airport, New gateway for Alexandria

General Info

Borg El Arab Airport is an airport serving Alexandria, Egypt. It is located about 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Alexandria, in Borg El Arab. Alexandria is also served by El Nouzha Airport. El Nouzha is going to close when the new Borg el Arab airport is finished.

In 2008, the airport served 189,064 passengers

Terminal facilities

There is currently one terminal building with the following services: 4 check-in desks, 3 immigration desks, 1 lounge area, 2 departure gate, 1 cafe, EgyptAir Gift Shop

Expansion

The Egyptian government announced a major expansion plan for the airport to turn the airport into a touristic gateway into the country.

In July 2007, The Egyptian Airports Company signed a deal to build a new passenger terminal that will have a capacity for 2.5 million passengers a year at a cost of 550 Million Egyptian Pounds (97 Million US$). The contract was awarded to the JV of Orascom Construction Industries. and BESIX Group of Belgium. Completion of the project is expected in 2010.

Facilities Developed
•International Passenger Terminal
Building with total
floor area of 24,000 m2
•Cargo Terminal Building of
2,000 m2
•Control Tower
•Administration Building of
3,000 m2
•Rescue & Fire Station of 800
m2
•Primary Power Station
•Water Tank
•Sewage Tretment Plant
•Taxiways and aprons for 9
aircraft stands
•Access Road & Car Park
•CCTV, FIDS, CUTE, Building
Monitoring, access control
and all necessary systems and
equipment

New Terminal renders:

Interiors:

Cairo Airport, A Middle-East-Africa Hub

Cairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the primary hub for Star Alliance member Egyptair. The airport is located to the north-east of the city around 15 km from the business area of the city.

Cairo International is the second busiest airport in Africa after OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa. Over 65 airlines use Cairo airport (including charter airlines) and 9 cargo airlines. With the assimilation of Egyptair into Star Alliance in July 2008 the airport has the potential to be a major hub with its positioning between Africa, the Middle East and Europe (especially with facilities for the A380).

In 2008, the airport served 14,360,175 passengers (+14.2% vs. 2007) and handled just over 138,000 aircraft movements (+12.4% vs. 2007). Of the top 100 airports in the world, CAI reported the highest growth rate of any airport in 2008.

The airport has three terminals with a third (and largest) opened on 27 April 2009. A fourth runway is currently under construction (opens late 2010) and a single cargo terminal (new cargo terminal is expected to go into operation in 2011). Runway 05L/23R is 3,300m long, 05C/23C has a length of 4,000m and 16/34 is 3,180m (all of the runways are 60m wide).

Terminal 1

The terminal facilities include Departure Hall 1, International Hall 3, and Hall 4 for Private & Non-commercial Aircraft Services. As part of the recent upgrading and facility improvement scheme, the CAA demolished the old hall 3, previously used for domestic arrivals and departures, to reconstruct a new hall to be used for international arrivals. Terminal 1 is locally known as the "Old Airport," although its facilities were recently given a complete overhaul and are newer than those of Terminal 2, which is still known as the "New Airport."

Terminal 1 is used by several Middle Eastern airlines, and an increasing number of other foreign carriers, such Air France and KLM. Terminal 1 has 12 gates. The bus brings you from the gate to the plane.

A new shopping mall called the 'AirMall' has been built near Terminal 1's New International Arrival Hall 3.

As of 2009 the façade of the terminal was being upgraded. The cladding which includes the landside facades of the terminal, the water tower and CAC's administration buildings. A Study on reorganizing the departure and arrival Halls is ongoing as well as the feasibility study to include a number of contact stands to improve the service and comfort levels to the passengers.

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 was inaugurated in 1986. It serves primarily European and Far Eastern airlines, airlines from the Persian Gulf region, and sub-Saharan Africa.

The architecture of the terminal building limits the possibility of expansion. There is significant congestion when more than 3 flights check in simultaneously, or more than 2 planes arrive at the same time. The terminal itself has 7 boarding gates.

In April 2009 a new exclusive lounge opened in the Departure area of Terminal 2 . The Exclusive lounge is a small world of its own and includes a separate VIP entrance guarantying privacy away from the general public and offers an impressive setting for departures.

In July 2008 the Cairo Airport Company (CAC) said it would allocate $400 million to develop the airport's Terminal 2. The move is meant to increase the terminal capacity from 3 million passengers to 7.5 million annually. The entire terminal's "look & feel" will improve dramatically once the renovation works are completed. Upgrade of Terminal 2 shall include a modernization of the 20 years old facility to reach the same level of service as the new Terminal 3 since both terminals will be operated "under one roof" in the near future.

NACO/ECG were assigned to prepare three different scenarios for Terminal 2’s re-development and the draft report was submitted in April 2008. The detailed design for T2 is ongoing. The project which will take 36 months to complete will double the capacity of T2 to around 7.5 million passengers and double the number of gates from 7 to 14 (and an additional 5 remote stands). It will include larger and more modern retail areas and will also include Airbus A380 gates. Upon completion in 2013 the passengers can expect a highly enhanced modern designed terminal offering international standard service levels and more passengers' convenience to include a large and appealing retail area and lounges.

As an interim measure several carriers operating from the terminal will briefly relocate to Terminal 1 while the terminal is renovated.

Terminal 2 is going to close in 2010.

Terminal 3

Terminal 3 opened for commercial operations on 27 April 2009. The facility is twice as large as the current two terminal buildings combined, with the capacity to handle 11 million passengers annually (6m international & 5m domestic) once the first phase is completed. It is located adjacent to Terminal 2, and the two terminals will initially be connected by a bridge. Access roads have already been redesigned, and the parking lots relocated.

With its hub at the airport EgyptAir's operations were overhauled with the full transfer of its operations (international and domestic) into the state of the art terminal between 27 April and 15 June 2009. To implement the Star Alliance “Move Under One Roof” concept.

All Star Alliance airlines serving Cairo Airport are located at Terminal 3.

The new terminal includes:

Two piers of extendable capacity and gates facilities serving domestic and international traffic, handled through contact and remote. The main building and the piers are connected by concourses. Two of the gates will be equipped to handle the Airbus A380 aircraft. Provisions for a third pier are currently in the planning stages.
Terminal 3 has 23 gates (2 gates for the A380), 6 check-in islands consisting of 110 check-in counters, 76 emigration and immigration counters , 52 contact & remote aircraft parking stands , 7 baggage carousels, 63 elevators, 50 moving walkways and 51 escalators.
Retails space covers over 6,000m².
Land side works including bridges and fly-over serving the traffic to and from the terminal building, surface car park areas (multi-story parking garage capable of holding more than 3,000 cars), a new access road connecting the airport with the Autostrad road (Cairo ring road) and upgrading the access roads.

Other developments

A luxury 350-room five-star Le Meridien hotel is to be built in front the new Terminal 3 for completion in 2011/2012. The hotel will be linked to the terminal by a skyway that is also equipped with moving walkway.
Construction of a new fourth 4,000m runway for completion in late 2010, south of the existing airfield.
The opening of a new 120m 'lotus-shaped' ATC Tower.
Construction of a multi-storey car park located in Terminal 2 for completion in June 2011.
Construction of a automated people mover (APM). The main station will be located between Terminals 2 and 3 and will become an integral part of the bridge connecting the two terminals. The 1.8km track is expected to go into operation by mid-2011 and will link Terminal 1, the Air Mall, the multi-storey car park and Terminals 2 and 3.
Continued upgrade of the landside façade of Terminal 1.
Renovation and expansion of Terminal 2.
The Cairo Cargo City (CCC) will provide state of the art facilities to support the growth in cargo traffic through the airport.
Expanding the Cairo Metro to serve the airport. The new line, which is in an advanced stage of execution, will link the airport at one end, and Mohandessin (in Giza), at the other. It is expected to be operational by 2012.
Development of real estate and the 'Oasis Project' which entails a business park with company headquarters and regional offices.
Nearby commercial and entertainment centers, to be built on 2.8 million square meters of land, will include a theme park, several shopping malls and 18 cinemas, at a total cost of LE950 million.

Visit: www.cairo-airport.com for more information.

Some nice Cairo airport video's

(quite out of date)

Terminal 3 Video

Renovated Terminal 1 facade.

Terminal 3 pictures:

Egyptair, Enjoy the sky

Egyptair was founded in 1932 as Misr Airwork.

Egyptair is the fastest growing airline in Africa. Egyptair (Airline code: MS) Is member of the biggest airline alliance: Star Alliance. The home base of Egyptair is Cairo international Airport, Egypt. Egyptair operates their flights from the new and state-of-the-art Terminal 3 at Cairo Airport.

Egyptair wants to be an important connexion between Europe and Africa. Most of the Egyptair routes are going to Europe and Africa.

Egyptair Express is a regional airline of Egyptair. Egyptair Express operates domestic flights in Egypt and International to Libya and Europe.

EgyptAir's Fleet

The EgyptAir fleet has an average age of 5.2 years and consists of the following aircraft (at October 2010):

**EgyptAir Fleet**
Aircraft	In service	Orders (Options)	Passengers (First/Business/Economy)	Notes
Airbus A320-200	13	0	145 (0/16/129) 144 (0/10/134) 171 (0/0/171)	5 in the 145-seat configuration 7 in the 144-seat configuration 1 in the 171-seat configuration (operating domestic flights only)
Airbus A321-200	4	0	185 (0/10/175)
Airbus A330-200	7	0	268 (0/24/244)
Airbus A330-300	1	4 (3)	301 (0/36/265)	OnAir internet and mobile usage capability New business class featuring lie-flat beds. Economy cabins will be equipped with PTV Deliveries: 3 in Q1 2011 and 1 in Q1 2012
Airbus A340-200	3	0	260 (12/24/224)	Fleet to be gradually retired from "unknown" or they will stay with EgyptAir and get a retrofit with 777-300ER and A330-300 cabins.
Boeing 737-500	4	0	104 (0/8/96)	SU-GBK operates Air Sinai flights 2 aircraft leased to Sudan Airways between August–November 2010.
Boeing 737-800	14	6	160 (0/16/144) 144 (0/24/120)	4 in the 160-seat configuration (to be reconfigured to 144-seats from 2011) 8 in the 145-seat configuration Deliveries: 4x 2010 (from September 2010), 2x 2011 and 2x 2012 (by August 2012).
Boeing 777-200ER	5	0	319 (12/21/286)	3 aircraft to be retired in 2010
Boeing 777-300ER	3	3	346 (0/49/297)	Deliveries: 1x December 2010, 2x 2011 All aircraft leased from GECAS New business class featuring full lie-flat beds New economy cabins are equipped with PTV
Total	54	13 (3)		Last updated: October 2010

**EgyptAir Express Fleet**
Aircraft	In service	Orders (Options)	Passengers (First/Business/Economy)	Notes
Embraer E-170	12		76 (0/0/76)	Operating for EgyptAir Express
Total	12			Last updated: October 2010

**EgyptAir Cargo Fleet**
Aircraft	Total	Orders (Options)	Cargo Capacity (Pounds/Lbs)	Remarks
Airbus A300B4-200F	2	0	96,000	Operating for EgyptAir Cargo Aircraft to be phased out in 2010
Airbus A300-600RF	2	0	97,000	Operating for EgyptAir Cargo
Total	4			Last updated: October 2010

The new A330-300's and 777-300ER's are getting new cabin interiors including Personal Audio and Video on Demand screens in Economy and Business Class. And fully Lie-flat business class seats.

The frequent flyer program of Egyptair is called: Egyptair Plus

Enjoy The Sky...

Egyptair Videos