Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering is looking to boost third-party customers' share of volume from 20% to 50% by 2018 - despite its parent airline's dramatic growth, which has seen its fleet double in four years.
This year, the MRO will begin offering third-party engine services from a shop it opened as a joint venture with Rolls-Royce and Lufthansa Technik in Cairo in 2009. The facility has full overhaul capability for International Aero Engines V2500-A1/A5 (A320 family) and CFM International CFM56-5C (A340-200/300) powerplants.
Disassembly and assembly to module level and testing capability are available for the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 (A330), CFM56-3C (737-300/400/500), Pratt & Whitney PW4090 (777) and PW4158 (A300-600). The CFM56-7B series for 737-600/700/800/900 aircraft will be added in 2014. Annual capacity is 75 engines; 12 can be worked on simultaneously.
Rolls-Royce and Lufthansa Technik are partners in Egyptair's engine shop
The first phase since the opening was to establish the centre and stabilise work processes among its 160 staff. At the end of 2010, the turnaround time for engine overhauls was 90 days, but the plan is to reduce this to 60-70 days when third-party work begins, says Abdel Aziz Fadel, Egyptair Maintenance & Engineering's chairman and chief executive.
Local labour rates are 50-60% below the corresponding remuneration levels in western Europe, says Fadel, but staff pay contributes only about 20% to the total engine overhaul cost, with the rest based on material costs.
For the airframe maintenance business, the company plans to build four new hangars by 2025. Currently, three hangars are available to work on up to nine aircraft. Construction of the first new, three-bay hangar will begin in 2014. Two more facilities with four bays each will follow in 2016-17 and 2020-21 and the fourth hangar is due to go up in 2025.
MORE WORK SHIFTS
But capacity will not grow just in terms of facility space. Egyptair M&E wants to introduce a second work shift this year, and plans a third one in the future. These extra shifts should increase total capacity by 20-30%, says Fadel. The company employs about 5,000 staff.
A delegation from Nordam visited Egyptair M&E late last year to discuss a possible engine nacelle overhaul joint venture. Fadel declines to reveal details about the talks, but says a decision may be reached in the first quarter of 2011. He says the MRO provider has been approached by some other companies, among them Goodrich and Spirit, and that Egyptair M&E is "open to any kind of co-operation".
The company wants to move away from being just a maintenance provider to selling comprehensive support packages. These could cover, for example, continuous airworthiness management planning and engineering services, as well as access to Egyptair's component inventory. So far, 16 of the company's 100 or so customers have opted for its total support packages.
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.
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 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!
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.
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.
A Decade ago, few passengers traveling through Cairo International were eager to repeat the experience. Back then, baksheesh (tips) for routine services, dirty toilets and flight delays were the norm. Read More...
Egypt's aviation minister vowed on Monday that his country won't allow Saudi budget flights to land at Cairo's airport without a bilateral aviation agreement, voiding the open sky policy currently in place.
Ahmed Shafik told the parliament that that the measure was to protect the state owned airline, EgyptAir.
He described the open sky policy as "a big cheat," saying the unregulated flights of budget Saudi airlines SAMA and NAS was taking business away from the Egyptian carrier.
Egypt does not have budget airlines of its own.
The aviation flap comes during a period chilling ties between the countries.
In March Egypt banned the Kingdom's two budget airlines, SAMA and NAS, from landing in Cairo arguing that their cheap prices negatively affect Egyptian.
After the March order banning the Saudi flights, the kingdom responded by barring EgyptAir from flying to the holy city of Medina where tens of thousands of Egyptian pilgrims flock every year.
Cairo International Airport has closed one of its three terminals for renovation, Amirah Ibrahim reports.
The upgrade and renovation project is estimated to cost $400 million, partially financed by the World Bank, which is providing $280 million of the total cost, with national banks providing the rest.
According to Ibrahim Manna, head of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, the project is due to be completed within 36 months and will expand the terminal's current capacity from 3.5 to 7.5 million passengers per annum. "This will take the total capacity of Cairo International airport to 24 million passengers per annum," Manaa explained.
DUBAI - EgyptAir has suspended flights to Medina as a row between the Egypt’s aviation authority and its Saudi counterpart over landing rights deepens, Al-Masry Al-Youm reported on Wednesday.
The move is response to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation’s refusal to permit two EgyptAir flights to land at Medina Airport this week, the Arabic daily said.Saudi authorities said they will not permit EgyptAir to add any addition fights until the ECAA allows Saudi private sector airlines to land at Cairo International Airport, the newspaper reported.The ECAA does not allow any private sector or charter airlines to land at Cairo airport, according to the paper.Egypt and Saudi Arabia have an ‘Open Sky’ agreement under which airlines can increase the number of flights on routes between the two countries without prior permission, the paper added.
EGYPTAIR announces that The departure and arrival of all flights To/from Jeddah and Medina Will be from the New Terminal 3 Starting from 00:01 Thursday 1st of the April, 2010.
Oman Air, Alitalia and Olympic Air now operate from Terminal 1. Terminal 2 will soon be closed to undergo a complete renovation and upgrade of its capacity. During that time the airlines currently operating from T2 will be operating from T1
State-owned Egyptian Airports Company plans to invest a further $546m in upgrading the country’s airports over the next five years, according to a source close to the firm.
The airport operator currently manages 19 airports in Egypt and plans to increase the country’s international passenger numbers to 18 million passengers in 2010, compared with 12.7 million in 2005.
The company expects most of the growth to be generated by an increase in capacity at the five main tourist hubs of Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel.
Egypt already has about $1bn worth of airport projects under way, including the $400m renovation of terminal two at Cairo International airport, projects at Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh airports on the Red Sea coast, and the $100m expansion of Borg el-Arab airport in Alexandria.
Egyptian Airports Company has asked contractors to submit prequalification documents for work on a second runway at Hurghada International airport by 11 March. The company expects to invite contractors to bid for the construction contract in June (source: MEED 20:1:10).
Cairo International Airport Terminal 2 renovation program
Terminal 2 was inaugurated in 1986,It serves primarily European and Far Eastern airlines, airlines from the Persian Gulf region,and sub-Saharan Africa.
Cairo International Airport terminal building 2 is undergoing a major renovation effort to double its capacity to 7.5 million passengers per year. As lead consultant, ECG's involvement in the renovation program encompasses master planning, design, and construction management and supervision. Financed by the World Bank, the terminal building is the first green airport to be developed in the MENA region and complies with all international engineering standards and regulations.
Construction starts from 2010 and should be in service in 2013.
Airlines at Cairo Airport serving at Terminal 2 will be replaced to Terminal 1
Cairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the primary hub for Star Alliancemember 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.
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.
