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 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

Source

EGYPTAIR W10 Operation Changes as of 13SEP10

As per 13SEP10 GDS timetable display, EGYPTAIR’s latest changes to planned 2010/11 Winter season operation, as follows. This includes a new destination to Lusaka in Zambia, from January 2011.

Service to Almaty in Kazakhstan, is canceled.

Details:

Almaty
2 weekly Cairo – Almaty service canceled from 02NOV10. It is continuing service to Almaty through existing codeshare service with Turkish Airlines

Bangkok/Guangzhou
Airbus A330-200 replace Boeing 777-200ER on following periods:
11DEC10 – 25DEC10
05FEB11 – 23FEB11

Lusaka New 4 weekly service eff 16JAN11.
Service operates as Cairo – Dar es Salaam – Lusaka, which affects operational schedule on DAR to CAI sector

till 15JAN11
MS841 CAI2210 – 0500+1DAR 320 x135
MS842 DAR0600 – 1045CAI 320 x246

eff 16JAN11
MS841 CAI2230 – 0520+1DAR0620+1 – 0750+1LUN 320 x135
MS842 LUN2150 – 0120+1DAR0215+1 – 0700+1CAI 320 x246

Departure from DAR to CAI is Day x357

Source

EgyptAir positive on expansion

EgyptAir said it is making good progress with implementation of its strategy of network expansion and product enhancement and is on course to take delivery of its first new A330-300 next month and a further two 777-300s in November and December as scheduled.

Passenger feedback on its first two 777-300s, which arrived earlier this year and feature a new cabin including the carrier’s first fully flat seats in business class, is “extremely positive,” Chairman and CEO Hussein Massoud told ATW during the recent Star Alliance event in Athens to induct Aegean Airlines into the grouping. MS will deploy the new aircraft on its daily Cairo-New York JFK flights starting in December. It will commence thrice-weekly CAI-Copenhagen service Oct. 1 aboard a 737-800 and next summer it will add Toronto as its second North American destination, Massoud revealed.

MS will launch mobile and Internet services onboard its new A330-300 fleet. Passengers will be able to use the Wi-Fi service throughout their flight to make calls through their mobile phones with the same international call rates of their service providers, according to the carrier. The new A330-300 will be configured with 36 fully flat seats in business class and 265 seats in economy.

Massoud also said that EgyptAir is contemplating launching a hybrid carrier at Alexandria, which in recent months has seen an influx of LCCs. He refrained from releasing further details and stressed the “plan has not yet been adopted” but said that if MS proceeds, the hybrid will launch under a different brand because “EgyptAir is not in the business of LCCs and is a full-service carrier.”

Source

News

• EgyptAir: Effective today, the airline has increased flights on the prime European route, CAI-LHR, from 8 to 10x weekly flights. MS779/MS780 is operated using the A330-200. The airline also operate a weekly LXR-LHR flight.
• AlMasria Universal Airlines: the airline is continuing its strong growth in the Saudi market by adding a second daily flight on the CAI-Yanbu route. With this increase the airline will offer a total of 28x weekly (or 4 daily flights) to KSA, placing the company in a good position to achieve their target of capturing 15% of the Egypt-KSA market during their first year of operation.
• Sun Air: the Sudanese carrier has increased flights on the KRT-CAI route to 14x weekly (2x daily) flights with the addition of a second daily service. Other airlines operating the route are EgyptAir (21x weekly flights), Sudan Airways (10x) and Kenya Airways (7x).
• Olympic Air: it seems OA will cancel their Athens-Alexandria route from 19 July.
• Etihad Airways: the airline will launch their new AUH-ALY route on the 12JUL10 ... the very same day Air Arabia Egypt start HBE-AUH.

Source: Horus!

More news...

• EgyptAir have now published details of their new flights to Lusaka (Zambia) which launches 02NOV10. The flight will operate twice a week via Dar es Salam. The schedule for both DAR and LUN will be

• 
  
  CAI DAR MS841 22:10 05:00 -2-4-57 5:50 A320 0
  DAR LUN MS841 06:00 07:30 --3---7 2:30 A320 0
  LUN DAR MS842 08:30 11:55 --3---7 2:25 A320 0
  DAR CAI MS842 12:55 17:40 --3---7 5:45 A320 0
  DAR CAI MS842 12:55 17:40 1---5-- 5:45 A320 0
  
  

• Air Arabia Egypt have now confirmed Abu Dhabi will be their next destination from HBE. Flights will start on 12JUL10.

• Turkish airline, Onur Air, plans to start a new airline in Egypt. The airline is operate charter flights from the Red Sea to various European cities. The yet to be named airline is expected to start operations in December 2010 with 2 aircraft if they are receive the necessary approval from the Egyptian authorities.

Air Arabia launches first flight out of Egypt

By Christopher Le Coq/Daily News Egypt June 1, 2010, 4:45 pm

CAIRO: Air Arabia, a regional low cost carrier, launched its Egypt operations Tuesday, with its first flight taking off from Alexandria, its third hub, to Khartoum.

The UAE-based carrier will also launch flights to Kuwait, Amman and Beirut, as well as to other destinations further afar within Europe, Africa and elsewhere in the Middle East.

In late 2009, Air Arabia formed a joint venture firm with Egypt's travel and hospitality group Travco with a start-up capital of $50 million. Travco Group has a 40 percent stake in the new firm while Air Arabia has 40 percent stake.

Adel Ali, Group CEO of Air Arabia, said that the new carrier will compliment their existing operations in the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, where it set up its first two hubs.

Hamed El Chiaty, chairman and CEO of Travco Group, said in a written statement, that the partnership “will contribute to the diversification of the domestic tourism industry, which is so vital to the Egyptian economy.”

Ali said: “Egypt has the biggest population in the Middle East, it is a major destination for tourists, geographically it is close to Europe and Africa, which will bring the Middle East and these two regions closer together, and finally, this decision fits within in our business model.”

Egypt, he said, will be a hub in the low-cost carriers’ global strategy.

“At the moment, we have a staff of 100 people and just two planes, with an objective of having four to six planes by the end of the year,” he pointed out.

Asked to what degree this will help create local jobs for Egyptians, Ali was quick to point to the company’s operations in the UAE. “When we started out in the UAE seven years ago, we had 1,000 employees. The number has grown to 7,000.”

“Each plane directly creates 70-80 jobs, but then there are jobs that are indirectly linked to our industry, such as taxis, restaurants, hotels and the like, bringing the actual number closer to 300-400 jobs per plane,” he told Daily News Egypt.

Ali underlined the potential for the development and expansion of low-cost travel in Egypt and in the rest of the region.

“Low-cost air travel represents 25 percent of the market in Europe, while a miniscule 7 percent in the Middle East.

“There is more significant demand for this type of travel for two fundamental reasons: first, on average middle-income revenues are lower in the Middle East than in Europe, making this type of travel highly attractive, and second, there is often no other viable travel option,” he said.

On how the airline’s business will develop in Egypt, Ali said their “strategy is to let it grow organically; part of the company’s success and ability to grow will be on traffic rights.”

He was also quick to point out that the government agencies involved in opening up Egypt’s airspace to foreign competition had been highly cooperative.

The entry into the Egyptian market builds on its existing services, which spans 60 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Source

EGYPTAIR W10 Operation Update: 777-300ER to New York

EGYPTAIR has further adjusted its planned 2010 Winter operation. Notable changes includes Boeing 777-300ER entering operation on New York market from January 2011.

As per 20MAY10 GDS timetable display, changes as follows:

Cairo – Abuja Operational day change. Eff 31OCT10 operates Day x136 instead of Day x367 (Abuja departs following day)
Cairo – London Heathrow MS777/778 continues to operate with NEW Airbus A330-300, which begins from 01SEP10
Cairo – New York JFK Boeing 777-300ER replace -200ER from 01JAN11
Cairo – Tokyo Narita Increase from 6 weekly to Daily from 01MAR11, 777-300ER operating

Source

EgyptAir schedule news

EgyptAir First A330-300 Flight Published

Today EgyptAir have updated their schedule and now show the first A330-300 will start flights on 01SEP10 on the CAI-LHR route (MS777/778). The configuration is actually 36C/265Y for a total of 301 seats (previously reported as 36C/260Y).
The airline is also requesting slots to increase CAI-LHR from 8 to 10x weekly flights this winter (likewise for CDG).

EgyptAir Confirm Tokyo Flight Increase

01MAY10-31AUG10: 3x weekly B77W flights.
01SEP10-29FEB11: 6x weekly B77W flights (a/c taken from LHR which become an A333 service).
01MAR11 onwards: 7x weekly (daily) B77W flights.

Source: Horus

Egyptair considers new routes to North America.

EgyptAir eyes Chicago, Toronto and Washington with new 777-300ERs
Brendan Sobie, Sao Paulo

EgyptAir plans to launch service to new North American destinations next year after it takes delivery of its last pair of Boeing 777-300ERs.

The Star Alliance carrier in March took delivery of the first of six new 777-300ERs, which it is temporarily using on its daily Cairo-London Heathrow service. EgyptAir has since added a second 777-300ER and placed the aircraft on its thrice weekly Cairo-Tokyo service.

EgyptAir group chairman and CEO Hussein Massoud says the carrier's next two 777-300ERs are scheduled to be delivered in November and December of this year and will be used on its Cairo-New York JFK service. He adds the last two 777-300ERs from its six-aircraft acquisition will be delivered in 2011 and used on new North American routes.

"We are thinking either Washington, Chicago or Toronto," Massoud told ATI during a Star Alliance event in Sao Paulo.

Washington Dulles and Chicago O'Hare are hubs for Star Alliance member United Airlines while Toronto is a hub for Star member Air Canada. No carrier currently operates non-stop services between Cairo and Washington, Chicago or Toronto, according to schedules in Innovata.

New York JFK is currently EgyptAir's only destination in the Americas. The carrier operates one daily flight on the Cairo-New York JFK route with 777-200s.

While EgyptAir plans to use its last two 777-300ERs to expand its North American network, Massoud says the new 777-300ERs are mainly being acquired to replace the carrier's older 777-200s. EgyptAir owns five 777-200s, and last year hired German bank DVB's aviation asset management division to re-market three of these aircraft.

All six of the new 777-300ERs are being leased. The fist two 777-300ERs have been leased from GECAS.

While EgyptAir's first 777-300ER initially replaced the 777-200 used on its daily Cairo-London Heathrow service, Massoud says the carrier will later this year switch this flight to the Airbus A330-300. He says EgyptAir will take delivery in August of the first of five new A330-300s.

Massoud explains EgyptAir plans to use the 777-300ER that is now on the London route to increase its Tokyo Narita service from three to six weekly flights.

He says EgyptAir, which already operates seven A330-200s, will receive the other four A330-300s from its outstanding order next year. He says these will all be growth aircraft used to open new routes to Africa and the Far East.

EgyptAir already has unveiled plans to expand its network in eastern and western Africa with additional 737-800s. Last year the carrier decided to swap its 2008 order for two 777-300ERs, which would have expanded its 777-300ER fleet to eight aircraft in 2013, for eight additional 737-800s.

Massoud says four of these additional 737-800s will be delivered from September through December of this year. EgyptAir earlier this month unveiled plans to launch thrice weekly service to Copenhagen from 1 October using 737-800s. But Massoud says EgyptAir will mainly use its additional 737-800s to launch services within Africa.

EgyptAir is significantly expanding its African network as part of a project with Star to improve the alliance's connections throughout the continent. EgyptAir, which currently operates eight 737-800s, joined Star in 2008.

Source: Horus

EGYPTAIR to start Paphos service

EGYPTAIR to start Paphos service

EGYPTAIR is starting Saturdays-only service on the Cairo – Paphos route from 17APR10, its 2nd destination in Cyprus. There will be 2 flights operating every Saturday.

Schedule (effective 01MAY10) below:

MS883 CAI0525 – 0640PFO 738 6
MS885 CAI2200 – 2315PFO 738 6

MS886 PFO0005 – 0125CAI 738 7
MS884 PFO0730 – 0850CAI 738 6

Egyptair's 777-300ER New Cabin Interior Video!

Recently Boeing delivered EgyptAir's first 777-300ER.

This plane features Business and Economy Class only.

EGYPTAIR's new 777-300ER has 346 seats including 49 lie-flat beds with a 78-inch seat pitch, plus an in-seat entertainment system throughout the cabin. A member of the Star Alliance, EGYPTAIR will operate 777-300ERs on routes to London, Tokyo and North America.

Passengers can enjoy from a wide range of movies, games and CD's on their Audio and Video On-Demand Personal TV Screen (PTV) in Economy (10,4 inch screen) and Business Class (15 inch screen). E-mail and Text messaging is also available. Seats in Economy and Business Class are also equipped with various connections like USB-ports and AC-Power connexions.

Enjoy and relax in a calm relaxing atmosphere by the use of "mood-lights" These advanced LED Cabin lights can change from color during Day, Night, Sunrise and Sunset. In addition, the plane ceiling is decorated with shining blue star lights.

People in Business Class can enjoy their Lie flat-Bed with 78 inch. seat pitch.

EgyptAir 777-300ER cabin lay-out in Business Class is: 2-3-2 and in Economy Class 3-3-3.

Enjoy this great product that change Egyptair Long-Haul flights service and African air travel.

Egyptair's up-coming A330-300's and their current A330-200's should get the same cabin interior.


"EgyptAir.... Enjoy the Sky"

Egyptair's first 777-300ER on it's way to her home-base Cairo

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

SU-GDL B777-36NER Egyptair Delivered
L/N 850 C/N 38284 B777-36NER SU-GDL EGYPTAIR

Dep PAE 15:25 PST
ETA CAI 11:50z on 10th March
Call Sign MSR3330

Flight Routing:
KPAE..SEA.J503.IWACK.J503.YNY.J527.YMM.NCAC.CANEL..
6800N/05000W..6800N/04000W..6700N/03000W..6600N/02000W..
6300N/01000W..MY.G11.GONUT.UM125.SUM.UL7.VENAS.UL74.
MONIL.UP62.PAM.UL620.ARNEM.UL603.DINKU.UM867.BAVAX.UM867.
ABISO.UY21.SABAD.UL862.GISER.UY450.NERRA.UL607.KEA.UN132.
KUMBI.G400.BLT..HECA/1224

Egyptair will serve Copenhagen again

Egypt Air has announced that after a year of waiting, Africa’s largest airline will finally re-launch their service from Cairo to Copenhagen. The route was suppose to be launched last spring, but will now, after last operating in 2004, have three weekly services.

Source

Wonderful article about Cairo Airport and Egyptair

Middle Eastern Star

By Cathy Buyck
Air Transport World, March 2010, p.20

EGYPTAIR HAS NO AMBITION TO BECOME A FIVE-STAR AIRLINE with exclusive first-class suites and luxury spas in its lounges, at least not for the present. Yet it is aiming to give its expansionistic Middle East and Gulf counterparts a cookie of their own dough with an increasingly effective strategy to source flow traffic over its Cairo hub supported by its membership in Star Alliance and a strong determination to gain, or regain, market share.

"We're facing intense competition from Gulf carriers and they have planned major capacity growth. Furthermore, we're disadvantaged in terms of resources but we have to deal with that," Alaa Ashour, chairman and CEO of the Cairo-based airline, states in down-to-earth fashion. However, he tells this magazine EgyptAir has some major assets to support its competitive prospects including a "long and strong history" as a flag carrier whose origins date back to 1932, low unit costs, a large home market (Egypt is the Middle East's most populous country with a population of more than 80 million), a homogeneous workforce and, last but not least, a government that applies an open skies policy only to its regional airports (see article p. 28). Foreign airline access to Cairo International remains regulated by bilaterals and it is a stronghold of the national carrier, which holds 60% of departure slots there, according to Ashour.

Despite this strong position, and no indication from the Ministry of Civil Aviation that it will change its stance on CAI, Ashour is convinced that EgyptAir has to prepare for open skies. "Liberalization in the Middle East, in Egypt, will come. We have to be ready," believes the 45-year-old pilot who was appointed chairman and CEO of the airline in September, signaling rejuvenation at the top. "We are doing our best to have a competitive product. This is one of the reasons why we are modernizing our fleet."

MS took delivery of 12 new 737-800s over the past two years and has firm orders for a further eight narrowbodies and orders and options for 14 widebodies for delivery between now and 2014 (see table, page 22).

Fourteen older aircraft including its 777-200s, 737-500s, A340s and some A320s will be retired, but as EgyptAir Holding Co. Chairman and CEO Hussein Massoud points out: "The market is not very attractive to sell them now. We have a contingency plan for some aircraft if we can't sell them. The A340s might get new interiors." By 2014, EgyptAir's fleet should comprise 72 aircraft compared to 64 at the end of 2009 and 32 in 2002.

This month, EgyptAir Airlines will take delivery of its first new 777-300ER, which will feature its first fully lie-flat beds and be the first aircraft to enter the fleet on an operating lease (from GECAS). All other mainline aircraft are owned. Regional affiliate EgyptAir Express deploys 12 owned E-170LRs while EgyptAir Cargo flies two A300B3-200Fs and two A300-600Fs. The three carriers operate under the same AOC but are managed separately and have their own P&L accounts. In aggregate, they operate some 1,200 weekly flights to 72 destinations worldwide.


Holistic Turnaround

In fact, EgyptAir is doing a lot more than a fleet renewal. It launched a major corporate reengineering in 2002, when its structure was changed from a governmental organization into a holding company with subsidiaries. The move coincided with establishment of the Minister of Civil Aviation and the government's ambitious strategy to modernize and upgrade its airports and airline.

"The two are interconnected; overhauling [just] the airports or the airline would have made no sense as they affect each other," Massoud states. As a textbook example that the government's strategy is correct, he cites the synchronized joining of EgyptAir into Star Alliance in July 2008 and the opening of CAI's new Terminal 3 in December, enabling efficient hub functionality for both airport and airline.

EgyptAir's membership in Star, and the consequent adoption of all its standards, also "proves how committed we are to promote our company," he says, stressing that MS has changed "a lot" since it was given the right to operate without any interference from the government and the duty to do so without any financial backing. "It became a different airline," he asserts. EgyptAir Airlines indeed has come a long way since its incorporation. It established a 24-7 Integrated Operations Control Center, became the first airline on the African continent to be IOSA certified in 2004 and outlined a new network strategy initially with Sabre Airline Solutions Consulting and now with Seabury APG, resulting in a hub model connecting Africa, Europe and the Middle/Far East over CAI. Transfer traffic is 15%-20% at present and should reach 30%-40% in a couple of years. In March it will start assessing the third and final phase of its network optimization, which will lead to reorganization of its flight schedule into multiple banks from the next winter schedule compared to two at present.

It also modernized its IT infrastructure including a cutover from its in-house legacy passenger service system to Amadeus's Altea customer management solution, transferred its domestic operations to a new subsidiary in response to the liberalization of the domestic market in 2006, updated its frequent-flyer software and program, launched a new corporate identity with a more dynamic look and new aircraft livery in 2008, "and so much more and so much more to come," Ashour laughs.

In the next months, for instance, MS will be moving from the more segment-based PROS RMS revenue optimization tool to PROS' O&D Solution and it will enhance the functionality and usage of its Internet booking engine. At present, just 5%-6% of bookings are made online.


Competitive Unit Cost

The new approach did deliver results, with a substantial improvement in all of its performance metrics. Compared to 2003-04, aircraft utilization rose from 9.25 daily block hr. to 11.01 in its most recent financial year ended June 30, 2009. Flight punctuality improved from 79.1% to 87.5% and passenger load factor lifted from 64% to 67.4%. The number of passengers carried grew from 4.5 million to 7.1 million excluding Express, which accounted for an additional 1.3 million boardings. Traffic more than doubled in the six-year period from 8.96 billion RPKs to 16.16 billion on an 85% hike in ASKs from 13.04 billion to 23.9 billion.

Its financial performance also improved. EgyptAir Airlines has been consistently profitable over the past five years after posting a net deficit of EGP247 million ($44.8 million) in its first year as an independent company. In fiscal 2007-08 it reported record earnings of EGP231.9 million on revenue of EGP9.3 billion, up 43% and 34% respectively over the prior year. For the year ended June 30, 2009, net earnings amounted to EGP207.6 million on revenue of EGP9.9 billion. "Many carriers faced difficulties or reported heavy losses during the financial crisis. Fortunately, we realized a profit in all our subsidiaries in the last financial year and even in the first half ended Dec. 31," Massoud boasts. The company does not publish half-year results, but the chairman indicates "results were better than anticipated and we foresee a full-year profit for fiscal 2009-10." Passengers carried in the first half decreased 4% compared to the year before as RPKs rose 3% on a 2% increase in ASKs.

EgyptAir has been affected by the industry downturn, he says, but not to the same extent as some carriers in Europe, the US and the Far East owing to its strategic location at the crossroad of Africa and the Mideast, steady Hajj and Umrah traffic, "which guarantees a part of our profit," and ethnic travel. Hajj and Umrah traffic represents up to 10% of international enplanements yearly, although this has been halved to 4.5% owing to H1N1. Networkwide yields fell about 8%-10% in FY08-09 and the first half of FY09-10. "We'll remain profitable but we are under extreme pressure," Ashour concedes. "Yields are going down and unit costs are going up owing to higher fuel prices and extensive product upgrades." He figures the year-on-year CASK increase will "not be less than 10%-15%" after years of a stable level at "between 5 and 8 dollar cents," which he accurately describes as "very competitive" for a full-service carrier.

While emphasizing that MS will stay loyal to its heritage as a full-service network carrier, Ashour argues that it has to target all segments and explore all options to grow revenue as yields stay under pressure. "We have to be flexible, innovative," he reasons. "There is no longer an exact model; everybody is a hybridLCCs and FSCs alike."

EgyptAir recently set up an in-house commercial R&D department and "will be rewriting its strategy," he says, cautioning, however, that unbundling "is a plan for the future." Its operations at Alexandria could become a noteworthy exception to its full-service philosophy owing to major inroads made by Mideast LCCs into Egypt's second-most-populous city.

"We'll strengthen the base in a 'smart' way," Ashour says, yielding that "maybe" a switch to a low-cost model is on the agenda. Changes are expected to take place from next winter's schedule. It currently flies from Alexandria El Nozha to Cairo and six destinations in the Middle East with a pair of A320s. EgyptAir Express operates to an additional seven domestic destinations.

Meanwhile, the carrier is moving forward with a comprehensive product upgrade throughout its fleet, including new catering and a reinforced "we care" service approach. At the end of January it commenced a vast training program for its 7,300-strong workforce, involving everybody from the call center to station managers to flight crew, about the importance of customer service. This will extend to all its related subsidiaries such as EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering, EgyptAir Ground Services and EgyptAir In-flight Services.

Human Capital

"We are investing a lot in human capital; it is part of our strategy. It's our objective to reach a better customer satisfaction through offering a good network, a good product and a good service. We would like EgyptAir to be recognized for a competitive customer service with the unique Egyptian spirit," Massoud explains, noting that "buying aircraft takes two to three years, building a new terminal takes two years, but building up human capital takes at least ten years."

With the arrival this month of its first 777-300ER, which will operate initially on the CAI-London Heathrow route, MS formally starts phasing out its first class that currently is available on the 777-200s and A340s. The 777-300ERs come in a two-class configuration, with 49 fully lie-flat seats in business and 291 seats in the economy cabin, which will be equipped with individual IFE units. Its new A330-300s will feature a similar configuration with 36 business class seats and 260 seats in economy.

"With the fully lie-flat seats we see no need for a first class," Ashour says. "It also reduces costs and complexities." Its new narrowbodies feature an equally comfortable layout, with 24 business class seats with a 48-in. pitch and 120 economy seats. All seats have individual IFE. "Demand in business is still very strong," Massoud confirms. The first four 737-800s had only 16 seats in business, but the number was upped on subsequent deliveries owing to strong demand. Those four will be refitted with an additional eight business class seats.

EgyptAir Airlines' winter timetable has it operating 441 weekly flights on its international network spanning 60 destinations in 44 countries. With 20 airports served, Europe remains its biggest market and "most profitable region," Massoud reveals. It serves 16 Mideast destinations and an equal number in Africa, but in line with its own and Star's network strategy it is looking to expand its footprint on the continent, mainly to West Africa. It is also in discussions with Star partner South African Airways about "cooperation to explore all possibilities to grow the African markets." Ashour remains tight-lipped about rumors that this could lead to a JV airline feeding EgyptAir's hub in the north and SAA in the south.

In general, MS adds two to three destinations per year. In 2009 it commenced four-times-weekly service to Abuja and Dar Es-Salam and a twice-weekly to Almaty. EgyptAir Express added Taba to its network. MS is doing a market analysis on several new destinations including Mauritius, Abidjan, Lusaka, Dakar, Douala, Toronto, Washington and Chicago. It aims to bring one new African and one new European destinationCopenhagen or Manchester online this summer, and an American destination in summer 2011

"We want to have a worldwide coverage with our own flights but we use codeshares and Star to get to destinations which make no commercial sense to fly on our own," concludes Massoud. "We are the national carrier of Egypt, but we have to be profitable."


Source: ATW Online

Egyptair's first 777-300ER photos and videos

Here are some photos and videos of Egyptair's first 777-300ER.













Egyptair's First Boeing 777-300ER aircraft is to enter service on 15 March 2010 on the Cairo – London Heathrow route MS777/778 service.

This plane will have brand new interiors and will have Economy and Business Class only. Personal TV screens will be available in all classes and in Business Class passengers can enjoy their lie-flat seats.

First look of the Egyptair's new 777-300ER at Boeing Paine field Seattle.

This great bird will be delivered to Egyptair in March. The new 777-300ER planes will have an all new Economy class and Business class with lie-flat beds. Personal entertainment systems will be available in all classes too.

People will experience a new Egyptair Long-haul service.