EgyptAir lease deal just one option says chairman.

Posted on 25 February 2011 in Air Transport

EgyptAir says suggestions that it may be leasing up to 25% of its new fleet in order to stave off losses came from unofficial leaks from within the company and was just one of the options that the airline was considering.

Chairman Hussein Massoud said in a statement today: " Last week some news spread in the international media about EGYPTAIR intention to lease out some aircraft. EGYPTAIR would like to confirm that no press release was issued from EgyptAir in that regard. However, an internal communication with EgyptAir staff that was addressing possible measures to alleviate the impact of the drop in passenger traffic during the peak of the crisis, referred to the possibility of offering any excess capacity for short term ACMI lease..

"Apparently, this internal communication leaked out by a way or another to the media and was erroneously treated as an official release .

"Within the peak of the crisis , EgyptAir had diligently performed appropriate adjustments to the schedule that were required to enhance the efficiency of the network through altering frequencies and retiming.

"EgyptAir assures its valued customers and stakeholders of the commitment to provide the highest standards of service and to meet their expectations, " he said.

The airline also conffirmed today that it has launched a revised flight schedule for the remaining weeks of the winter season up to 26th March 2011. During the peak of the political crisis in Egypt and the associated curfew which was imposed , EgyptAir

had reduced offered capacity in order to match with the demand of that period. Presently EGYPTAIR is preparing for the release of a limited modification to the Summer Schedule. The revised schedule will feature a gradual growth in volume of operations over the summer season reaching normal volume towards the end of the season.

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