Thursday, December 30, 2010

Al Kharafi selects EgyptAir for maintenance centre at Egypt's first private airport

A new maintenance centre is to open at Egypt's first privately owned and operated airport at Marsa Salam.
Owned by the Kuwaiti Al Kharafi Group the Marsa Alam Airport is 60km north away from Marsa Alam City and is planning on 10,000 aircraft movements by the end of 2011.
 
The new maintenance centre will be operated under contract by EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering Company with the contract signed this week between Eng Abdel Aziz Fadel, EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering Chairman, and Eng Ibrahim Saleh, the Al Kharafi President in Egypt. 
 
EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering is now one of the biggest MRO providers in the Middle East and Africa for Airbus, Boeing and Embraer types. With more than 78 years history, EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering serves more than 100 airlines in Europe, Middle East and Africa with a high potential workforce to satisfy its increasing customers with total care maintenance solutions.  
 
The Marsa Alam international airport was opened to support the increasing tourism in the Red Sea area. It currently receives Boeing 737, 757 and 767 aircraft. 

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Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas and a Happy new year everybody! May all your wishes come true... Cheers!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

New Egyptian carrier Nile Air to launch Iraq service from Jan 2011

Egyptian carrier Nile Air starting 11JAN11 launches operation with Airbus A320 aircraft. From 11JAN11, it is offering 2 weekly Cairo – Baghdad service, and followed by 1 weekly Cairo – Erbil – Sulaymaniyah – Cairo triangle service the following day.
Upon launch, Nile Air becomes the first Egyptian carrier to offer service between Egypt and Iraq since nearly 2 decades of service suspension.
Schedule:
Cairo – Baghdad
NP201 CAI0830 – 1150BGW 320 26
NP202 BGW1250 – 1350CAI 320 26
Cairo – Erbil – Sulaymaniyah – Cairo
NP203 CAI1000 – 1320EBL1405 – 1430ISU1530 – 1700CAI 320 3
The Airbus A320 aircraft seats 142, in J16Y126 configuration.



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Dufry plans renovations, store openings across three airports in Egypt

In addition to renovations at Sharm el Sheikh, Dufry will be opening new departures
and arrivals stores at Borg el Arab and Assiut airports



In a recent interview with Gulf-Africa Duty Free, Miguel Angel Martinez, Dufry Africa’s COO, confirmed that a number of projects—including renovations and store openings in Egypt—are in the works for the second half of 2010. 

Dufry currently operates five stores in Sharm el Sheikh International Airport, four in the departure area of Terminal 2 and one in the arrivals area of the same terminal. One of the departure stores is currently undergoing renovations to accommodate a new shop-in-shop.

“We will soon be opening a new fashion concept shop called ‘Blanc du Nil,’” says Martinez. “We are now in the process of renovating a part of our departure store in Sharm el Sheikh International Airport to provide the new design for the Blanc du Nil section, which will measure a total of 40-square-meters.”

As the name suggests, Blanc du Nil’s fashions are predominantly white in color. The clothes are reasonably priced and also made from Egyptian cotton. In addition to the renovations at Sharm el Sheikh, Dufry will be opening four new stores in Egypt before the end of the year.

The company will open two stores at Borg el Arab International Airport, one in the departures area and one in arrivals. Furthermore, Dufry will open two stores (again, one in departures and one in arrivals) in the international hall at Assiut Airport. 

All four projects are expected to be completed before the end of the year. Martinez asserts that the retail space of the four new stores combined will measure 958-square-meters.

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Great Trip-Report including EgyptAir's brand new A330-300!

Special for the people who like to read trip reports.

An Airliner.net member made a very good trip report including Egyptair's A320-200 and A330-300 also information about Cairo Airport and their Star Alliance lounges.

The Trip Report...

Enjoy!

Cairo Airport shuttle damaged in storm to be replaced by French manufacturer

Cairo Airport Company Chairman Hassan Rashed has decided to send the electric shuttle train intended to link Cairo International Airport’s three main terminals back to France--where it was manufactured--to be replaced with a new one.

The decision came after the original shuttle was severely damaged by recent storms near Alexandria as it was being transported to Egypt by sea.

Rashed told Al-Masry Al-Youm that he had informed the French manufacturers of the shuttle of his decision, saying that, even if sea water had not leaked into the shuttle’s working parts, the vibrations that occurred as a result of the storm may have damaged it.

He went on to note that the relevant insurance company would be responsible for the transportation costs incurred by the shuttle's return to France. He stressed that, despite the setback, the shuttle service would commence operations in July as originally planned.

According to Rashed, the technical committee responsible for assessing damage to the shuttle was unable to assess the extent of the damage since the ship transporting it was still at sea.

Cairo Airport Automated People Mover


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Egyptair's Maintenance & Engineering Video

A quite enjoyable video about Egyptair's Maintenance & Engineering department.

Enjoy!

Air Arabia to launch Sohag flight late-Dec 2010

Air Arabia starting 26DEC10 begins 2 weekly Sharjah – Sohag service in Egypt with Airbus A320 aircraft.
Schedule below:

G9677 SHJ0730 – 0930HMB 320 13
G9678 HMB1010 – 1515SHJ 320 13

Source

EGYPTAIR plans 4th weekly Cairo – Toronto service upon route launch in Jun 2011

As per 21DEC10 GDS timetable display, EGYPTAIR plans to add 4th weekly service on new Cairo – Toronto service upon launch from 01JUN11. However, the 4th weekly service is currently not available for reservation.
Further, the airline has modified planned operational schedule on this route, which the schedule is changed to 60-90 minutes later :

MS995 CAI0101 – 0640YYZ 77W x357
MS996 YYZ1300 – 0730+1CAI 77W x357
Day 2 service currently not available for reservation

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EgyptAir Maintenance extends aircraft types after successful EASA audit

EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering has added aircraft types B757-200/300, B767-200/300, Airbus A330-200/30 powered by GE CF6 and Embraer E190/195 to its capability to serve EgyptAir fleet.
The new approvals will also work towards its goals of attracting more customers operating different aircraft types from around the Middle East and African region.
The move came after the successful EASA audit on EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering to renew the validity of its approval certificate. The audit was conducted in two phase:  
The first phase: was conducted on the activities in outstations in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The result of this audit reveals the perfect compliance with the regulatory requirements.
In the second phase: A complete audit was performed on all the company's activities and the related facilities in which the activities are exercised in line maintenance, base maintenance, all overhaul workshops and engine workshops. All activities and applicable procedures were checked even interviews were conducted with the staff to evaluate their competency with respect to understanding the rules of regulations together with the company's procedures and the technical tasks they are assigned to perform. 

Source

 

EgyptAir begins codeshare with SAS

Arabian Aerospace


EgyptAir and Scandinavia's SAS airline have agreed a codeshare partnership on flights from the northern Europe countries and Africa.
EgyptAir customers are now able to fly between Copenhagen - Stockholm, Copenhagen - Oslo, Copenhagen - Gothenburg , Copenhagen - Brussels and from Athens to Copenhagen onboard SAS when booking with EgyptAir. In return, SAS customers now can fly between Cairo - Copenhagen, from Cairo to Athens and from Brussels to Cairo.
“Our customers now can fly within Northern Europe without exerting more effort.” EgyptAir  airlines chairman Capt Alaa Ashour said. “EgyptAir is always looking for providing its customers with the best travel options in coordination with our co-member carriers in Star Alliance.”
As being Star Alliance members, both carriers Frequent Flyer customers will be able to accrue and redeem miles on the code-share flights.

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Airline Route

SAS and EGYPTAIR starting 15DEC10 begins codeshare cooperation, covering service between Egypt and Scandinavia, including EGYPTAIR’s Cairo – Copenhagen route. Codeshare service also covers Athens and Brussels.
Codeshare routes and flight numbers below:

Route MS Codeshare SK Operating
Athens – Copenhagen MS9490 SK778
Copenhagen – Brussels MS9491 SK1591
Copenhagen – Gothenburg MS9493 SK1444
Gothenburg – Copenhagen MS9492
MS9494
SK437
SK1439
Copenhagen – Oslo MS9487 SK1460
Oslo – Copenhagen MS9486 SK1467
Copenhagen – Stockholm MS9483 SK1424
Stockholm – Copenhagen MS9484 SK1421

SK Codeshare MS Operating
Copenhagen – Cairo SK6127 MS760
Cairo – Copenhagen SK6126 MS759
Cairo – Athens SK6128 MS747
Brussels – Cairo SK6129 MS726

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Sunday, December 5, 2010

RAK AIrways adds Cairo to its growing route network

Ras Al Khaimah's carrier RAK Airways, has added a fifth destination to its growing route network with flights to Cairo, Egypt from December 15th

RAK Airways will offer three flights a week to the Egyptian capital..  
 
RAK Airways Chairman Sheikh Omar Bin Saqr Al Qassimi   said, “With the announcement of our fifth destination to Cairo, Egypt, RAK Airways has highlighted its commitment to expanding its’ route network. We are pleased to have delivered on our mandate of adding three additional routes for our passengers within two months of launching our operation.”
 
 
  “With new destinations to Cairo, Dhaka and Chittagong set for take-off on December 15th , RAK Airways will be able to further enhance our high-value offering.  With our competitive fares, load factors on our inaguaural routes have been extremely positive and we are optimistic that we will be able to replicate this success with our Egypt and Bangladesh routes,” Sheikh Omar added. 
 
RAK Airways new routes will be served by two Boeing 737- 800’s.

Source 

EGYPTAIR launch Toronto service from June 2011

As per 01DEC10 GDS timetable display, EGYPTAIR starting 01JUN11 is to launch 3 weekly Cairo – Toronto NONSTOP service on board Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Schedules of the new flight as follows:

MS995 CAI2355 – 0540+1YYZ 77W 357
MS996 YYZ1130 – 0600+1CAI 77W 146

Source

EGYPTAIR/South African Airways to expand codeshare service from Dec 2010

Star Alliance members EGYPTAIR and South African Airways from 05DEC10 begins expanding their codeshare operation, which becomes bilateral codeshare instead of unilateral.  EGYPTAIR’s “MS” code is appearing on SAA selected domestic service, as well as to Harare, Lusaka and Mauritius.
In return, SAA is displaying “SA” code on selected EGYPTAIR’s domestic service, as well as to Abu Dhabi and Doha.
Codeshare routes and flight numbers below:

Route MS Codeshare SA Operating
Johannesburg – Cape Town MS9442 SA327
Cape Town – Johannesburg MS9443 SA352
Johannesburg – Durban MS9444 SA543
Durban – Johannesburg MS9445 SA570
Johannesburg – Harare MS9446 SA022
Harare – Johannesburg MS9447 SA023
Johannesburg – Lusaka MS9448 SA062
Lusaka – Johannesburg MS9449 SA063
Johannesburg – Mauritius MS9450 SA190
Mauritius – Johannesburg MS9451 SA191

SA Codeshare MS Operating
Cairo – Luxor SA7181 MS351
Luxor – Cairo SA7180 MS356
Cairo – Sharm el Sheikh SA7183 MS301
Sharm el Sheikh – Cairo SA7182 MS306
Cairo – Abu Dhabi SA7185 MS914
Abu Dhabi – Cairo SA7184 MS915
Cairo – Doha SA7187 MS935
Doha – Cairo SA7186 MS936
EGYPTAIR operated by SAA
SAA operated by EGYPTAIR

EGYPTAIR Initial Summer 2011 International operation changes

As per 02DEC10 GDS timetable display, initial EGYPTAIR planned Summer 2011 International service changes as follows.
Please note further changes are likely.

Cairo – Abu Dhabi MS914/915 29MAR11 – 31AUG11 777-200 replace A330-200
Cairo – Accra / Abidjan
Existing 4 weekly Accra service extends to Abidjan. The Star Alliance member previously served Abidjan but suspended
2 of 4 weekly flights to Accra re-scheduled to night-hours
MS881 CAI0015 – 0330ACC0430 – 0610ABJ 738 23
MS881 CAI0915 – 1230ACC1330 – 1510ABJ 738 46
MS882 ABJ1100 – 1240ACC1340 – 2210CAI 738 23
MS882 ABJ2005 – 2145ACC2245 – 0715+1CAI 738 46
Cairo – Amman MS739/740 increase from 5 weekly to Daily. Overall service increase from 19 to 21 weekly
Cairo – Amsterdam eff 04JUL11 Increase from 6 weekly to Daily
Cairo – Asmara Service remains at 3 weekly, reduction since the launch of 2010 Winter schedule, compared to 5 weekly in S10
Cairo – Athens Reduce from 12 to 10 weekly. Service overall still an increase compared to Daily in S10
Cairo – Bahrain eff 21JUN11 Increase from 5 to 6 weekly
Cairo – Bangkok Daily terminator service with 777-200ER introduced since 15DEC10 is maintained
Cairo – Barcelona Increase from 5 weekly to Daily
Cairo – Beirut Increase from 16 to 21 weekly
MS713 CAI0015 – 0140BEY 738 D
MS709 CAI1000 – 1125BEY 320 D
MS711 CAI1750 – 1915BEY 320 D
MS714 BEY0600 – 0730CAI 738 D
MS710 BEY1225 – 1355CAI 320 D
MS712 BEY2015 – 2145CAI 320 D
MS713/714 currently operates 4 weekly (3 weekly in S10), MS709/710 currently operates 5 weekly (4 weekly in S10)
Cairo – Benghazi Service increase to Daily introduced in W10 maintained in S11
Cairo – Brussels Increase from 6 weekly to Daily
Cairo – Budapest Service increase to Daily introduced in W10 maintained in S11
Cairo – Casablanca Increase from 6 weekly to Daily (5 weekly in S10)
Cairo – Catania Flight number changes MS555/556 and MS557/558 replaces MS445/446 and MS447/448 respectively
Cairo – Copenhagen Introduction of 4th weekly, service operates on Mondays
MS759 CAI1100 – 1445CPH 738 x246
MS760 CPH1545 – 2120CAI 738 x246
Cairo – Damascus MS727/728 Increase from 4 weekly to Daily. Overall service increase from 11 to 14 weekly
Cairo – Doha 5 of 7 weekly Airbus A340-300 replace A320 for entire Summer season (S10 saw A340 operating on selected periods)
Cairo – Dubai Operation in W10 maintained in S11
MS912/913 Daily A330-300
MS910/911 6 weekly A330-300 and 1 weekly 737-800
Cairo – Dusseldorf 4th weekly service introduced in W10 maintained in S11
Cairo – Frankfurt eff 01AUG11 Airbus A330-300 enters service, replacing -200 (S10 Daily 737)
Cairo – Guangzhou Nonstop service introduced from 15DEC10 maintained in S11, 4 times a week with 777-200ER
Cairo – Kuwait eff 14JUN11 Introduction of 3rd Daily service, operated by various aircraft type in its fleet
MS614 CAI0015 – 0305KWI EQV D
MS615 KWI0405 – 0650CAI EQV D
Cairo – Larnaca Introduction of 5th weekly service, operates on Sundays
Cairo – Lisbon eff 02JUL11 Seasonal increase from 2 to 4 weekly, compared to from 2 to 3 in S10
Cairo – London Heathrow
MS777/778 Continuation of Daily 777-300ER operation
MS779/780 eff 01SEP11 Airbus A330-300 replace -200
Cairo – Malta Flight number change, MS553/554 replaces MS443/444
Cairo – Milan Malpensa 9th weekly service introduced in W10 maintained in S11
Cairo – Mumbai 5th weekly service introduced in W10 maintained in S11
Cairo – Munich 2 of 7 weekly operated by A330-200, replacing 737-800
Cairo – Paris CDG
MS803/804 eff 07JUN11 Increase from 3 to 4 weekly, new flight operates on Tuesdays (overall service to Paris increase from 10 to 11 weekly, compared to 9 in S10)
MS799/800 eff 01AUG11 Airbus A330-300 replace -200
Cairo – Rome Gradual service increase from 9 to 12 weekly, increase on MS793/794 flight:
27MAR11 – 31MAY11 Day 17
01JUN11 – 30JUN11 Day 137
01JUL11 - Day x56
Cairo – Tokyo Narita Continuation of Daily 777-300ER, introduced from 01MAR11
Cairo – Toronto eff 01JUN11 New 3 weekly service on board Boeing 777-300ER (posted on the blog on 01DEC10)
Cairo – Tripoli Increase to 14 weekly in W10 maintained in S11
Hurghada – Geneva Seasonal 1 weekly service appears to be not operating in S11
Luxor – Kuwait Service Reduced to 2 weekly in W10 maintained in S11
Luxor – Paris CDG Seasonal 1 weekly service appears to be not operating in S11
Sharm el Sheikh – Catania Seasonal 1 weekly service resumes with flight number change, MS559/560 replaces MS441/442
Sharm el Sheikh – Jeddah Seasonal 4 weekly service operates 15JUN11 – 31JUL11 only with flight number change, MS573/574 replaces MS449/450
Sharm el Sheikh – Rome Seasonal 1 weekly service appears to be not operating in S11
Sohag – Kuwait Increase from 2 to 4 weekly (same aircraft operation on Cairo – Sohag domestic sector also increases to 4 weekly), operating on Day x237

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