Other news

• Air Arabia Egypt Route Update:
  • Kuwait: HBE-KWI increases from 4 to 7x weekly flights (daily) from 01JUL10.
  • Amman: HBE-AMM operated with 4x weekly flights.
  • Khartoum: HBE-KRT operated with 3x weekly flights.
  • Beirut: HBE-BEY launches 01JUL10 with 4x weekly flights.
  • Next Destinations: Due to bilateral restrictions (which is limiting the airlines ability to launch new routes), E5 currently have an aircraft sitting idle in HBE. This has resulted in the airline reshuffling their route plan, with Abu Dhabi now expected to be the next new destination from 10JUL10 with 4x weekly flights. This is an interesting choice given the proximity between AUH and parent company's hub in SHJ. Having said that Abu Dhabi is the only major Arab city not to have an air link to Alexandria, so this is a natural void to fill.

• AlMasria Universal Airlines Route Update:
  • New Destination: Today UJ launches it's third Saudi destination with a new 7x weekly (daily) service connecting Cairo with Qassim (ELQ).
  • Development: AlMasria growth in the scheduled market has been impressive, in particular their growth in KSA. They now operate no less that 3 daily flights to the country; 1x daily CAI-YNB, 1x daily ALY-JED, 1x daily CAI-ELQ and intend to start flights to Abha soon. Unlike other Egyptian private airlines, AlMasria has shunned the traditional charter market to focus on building scheduled services, which is long overdue. This along with Air Arabia Egypt (launching scheduled services this month) and Nile Air (planning to do so next month), is a positive sign of the development of private Egyptian airlines.

• Imminent Launch of Nile Air:
  • Dates: According to an update on the airline's website, commercial operations will start in July 2010. The fleet currently consists of 2 leased A320 aircraft.
  • Details:There are no details regarding which routes they will operate, however they seem like a professional outfit. Note: they have an order for 9 brand new A321s with Airbus, which is the largest order by an Egyptian private carrier.

• Imminent Launch of Nesma Airlines:
  • Aircraft Deliveries: The first aircraft for the new Saudi-backed Egyptian airline arrived in CAI last week. The ex-BD A320 named 'Bertha' (SU-NMA) will be joined by a second aircraft (SU-NMB) next week. Both aircraft are leased from ILFC.
  • Details: Details of the airline's planned operations are limited, however the following was quoted in the press: "Scheduled and charter services will link cities in Egypt and Western Europe with destinations in the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia in particular. Transporting pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj and Umrah is expected to be a major part of the new airline's business plan."

• Smart Aviation Company Turboprop Order
  • Reports indicate the airline will soon announce an order for Bombardier's 78-seater Q400. The first aircraft is likely to arrive in time for the Avex Airshow in Sharm El Sheikh in November.

• Kuwait Airways New Egypt Routes:
  • Sohag: KU will become the first airline to inaugurate flights to Egypt's newest airport, Mubarak International Airport from August 2010.
  • Marsa Alam: the airline has announced plans to launch flights to the resort airport this summer. Jazeera Airways operated KWI-RMF last summer but no longer operates the route. Given the heavy investment made by Kuwait companies in Marsa Alam and Port Ghalib, this route is not a surprise. Of all Gulf airlines, Kuwaiti airlines have the strongest presence in the Red Sea with flights from KWI to Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and now Marsa Alam.

• LOT Polish Airlines New Egypt Route:
  • Warsaw to Cairo: the airline has announced plans to launch WAW-CAI from October 2010, connecting two Star Alliance hubs. Details have yet to be published.

• Aeroflot:
  • Red Sea: the airline will dramatically increase flights (and capacity) to the Red Sea resorts of Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada this winter. Currently each destination is served with a daily A320 flight from Moscow (SVO), however from November each airport will receive 2x daily flights with the 260-seater IL-96.
  • New Routing: Aeroflot will also re-route their current bi-weekly SVO-Luanda (Angola) non-stop B767 flight via HRG from 07DEC10. The flight (SU345/346) will operate SVO-HRG-LAD-HRG-SVO with the A320. This will certainly be the strangest scheduled service operating to Egypt.
  • Cairo Airport: The Russian airline will maintain its 2x weekly SVO-CAI flights. The route was served with 4x weekly flights until earlier this year.

Source: Horus!