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The flight took off from Cairo International without the usual fanfare when an airline launches a new service, neither at the airport nor onboard. A delegation headed by Marketing Manager Magda Metwali and Planning Manager Hussein El-Sherif joined the flight which left at 10 am. It took almost four and half hours to reach Copenhagen. Egyptian Ambassador to Denmark Nabil Habashi and his wife welcomed the passengers at the tube gate. However, due to bad luck, we were only able to leave the airport at 5pm due to tough security procedures. The delegation had to drop off all printed publications they brought to use at a cocktail reception.
A short briefing took place at the airport while watching the Egyptian plane being showered with water by fire fighting vehicles as it was getting ready for the return flight to Cairo.
Speaking to Al-AhramWeekly, Ambassador Habashi indicated that there are an estimated 2500 Egyptians who live in Denmark, and that the route represented a boon to the work of the Egyptian mission. "It would certainly facilitate the transfer of Arabs and Africans who live in Copenhagen in large numbers," explained Habashi. "As for Muslims, the new route will serve Muslim Europeans who want to perform Hajj and Omra, not only from Denmark but from all Scandinavian countries," he added. According to Habashi, about 70-80,000 Arabs and 30-40,000 Africans live in Denmark.
Six years ago, the Copenhagen route had to be suspended along with 14 other international destinations to stop loss bleeding. A comprehensive study found out that those routes only captured 5% of market traffic. "We are definite not going to repeat the mistakes of the past," replied EgyptAir Airline Chairman and CEO Captain Alaa Ashour. "The route had been previously served with two flights weekly, one was operated via Stockholm. This is not what European passengers want, as they prefer to fly direct flights," Ashour told the Weekly in Cairo.
Ashour also indicated that the route relied mainly on tourists which could not help it to survive. "Tourists prefer to use charter flights to Red Sea resorts and we do not have intentions to compete with charter business. Now with Cairo International a hub and with EgyptAir expanding the fleet, we target different categories of passengers," he explained. EgyptAir, is planning to increase hub traffic passing through its new T3 terminal at Cairo airport from 4-6 per cent last year to 30 per cent by the end of 2011.
"We are negotiating a code share agreement with SAS which will boost the business of the airline in European and African markets,' Ashour added.
The new route is currently served with three weekly flights, on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday departing from Copenhagen at 3:45pm and from Cairo at 10:00am. The airline uses the B737 with the 24 business seats and 120 economy seats.
"With Egypt Air's extensive route network, this route opens up not only all of Egypt, but destinations such as South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and the Middle East," explained Magda Metwali, the airline marketing manager. "The route has high potential considering the fact that Copenhagen acts as a hub for Scandinavian countries. We plan to add a fourth flight in April but by the end of 2011 the route will be served with five flights weekly," Metwali added.
Traffic flow between Copenhagen and Cairo is estimated to be 80,000 in total and EgyptAir will undoubtedly be looking to capture traffic from Scandinavia to Africa.
On the other hand, SAS stopped flying to Cairo in 2006, as did Cimber Sterling airline, so the sky seems clear of competitors.
A closer look at the airline schedules shows a clear lack of competition in the Africa-Scandinavia sector. Three airlines operate one weekly flight each on a charter base to Hurghada, Marrakesh and Tunis. All three are leisure-based operators serving leisure markets, which will not be a threat for EgyptAir.
Ashour indicated that all new routes were to operate through a General Sales Agent (GSA) to avoid extra costs. "It is really good news. International accessibility through direct routes to and from overseas destinations is vital for Danish industry," commented Ibrahim Ramadan, EgyptAir GSA Denmark. "Accessibility to these destinations and Cairo in particular is thus strengthened significantly, which is of great benefit to securing Danish business interests in Egypt, and also for the Danish business community in general," Ramadan explained.
Copenhagen airport calls itself 'Scandinavia's Hub'and serves as a Star Alliance hub for the main operating carrier SAS. That status is currently being strengthened as two other Star members, Air Canada and EgyptAir, are operating.
According to Carsten Norland, Vice President Sales Copenhagen airport, the new direct route closes an important gap in the route network from Copenhagen Airport. "This is the only direct flight that connects our airport to Africa, we are so pleased to have Egyptian flights back," he commented.
"We see big potential for this route as Africa is an ill-served market for us," added Norland. "A direct route to Cairo will not only boost the Copenhagen to Cairo market but also African-bound traffic due to Cairo's connectivity to the African continent."
The airline currently flies to 16 destinations in Africa, and has plans to add two new African destinations by early November 2010.
Borg El Arab Airport is undergoing a major expansion in terms of the airport's passenger and cargo handling capacity in response to growing demand and the new facilities are expected to become operational from the fourth quarter of 2010.
The airport will consist of a new passenger building and an administration building. The passenger terminal is designed in the shape of a boat and consists of three floors:
The terminal will contain a duty free shop, a franchise food court, an area dedicated for travel offices and other travel-related services, a fuel supply unit, a control tower, and a fire station available to cover emergencies on site. Also a parking area on the building's front will provide space for 350 vehicles.
The estimated cost of the modernization plan is $120 million and is expected to be complete by summer 2010.
The airport has the capacity to handle 1.2 million passengers per year becoming an adequate replacement to Alexandria International Airport, which will shut down in summer 2010 for a two year period while the airport's facilities are overhauled. During this time all airlines operating to Alexandria will transfer to Borg El Arab Airport.
Youtube video's of the new terminal:
Congratulations Borg El Arab Airport!
Captain Alaa Ashour, EgyptAir Chairman and CEO, accompanied by Abdel Aziz Fadel, the chairman of EgyptAir engineering and other top officials welcomed the new aircraft when it landed at Cairo International airport.
Captain Alaa Ashour expressed his happiness with the arrival of the new aircraft saying, “With the arrival of this aircraft we our customers will be able to enjoy the luxury, comfort and exclusivity on our daily non-stop service to New York JFK.”
Hussein Massoud, the Chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Holding Company stated that “Today is another milestone in the process of continuous modernization of our fleet which goes in harmony with the overall modernization strategy of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The target of this strategy is to provide optimum travel services to and from Egypt".Per 15OCT10 GDS timetable display, EGYPTAIR starting Monday 18OCT10 is introducing Boeing 777-300ER aircraft service on Cairo – New York JFK, replacing -200ER. (13 days earlier than planned)
With the introduction of -300ER model, First Class service will be terminated, with newly revamped Business Class and other inflight products.
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| 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.
LOT Polish Airlines from 03NOV10 is starting 3 weekly Warsaw – Cairo service on board Boeing 737-400 aircraft.
Schedule below:
LO115 WAW2230 – 0320+1CAI 734 136
LO116 CAI0410 – 0720WAW 734 247
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
EGYPTAIR from 01OCT10 begins 2 weekly Alexandria – Khartoum on board Airbus A320 aircraft. Currently service operates for the month of October 2010 only.
Schedule below:
MS861 ALY0730 – 1130KRT 320 25
MS862 KRT1230 – 1430ALY 320 25
EgyptAir A330-300 Article:
EgyptAir is going to launch mobile and internet services onboard the newest fleet of the Airbus 330-300. The first aircraft of this fleet will be delivered on August 23.
EgyptAir is working with OnAir to ensure the Egyptian carrier's Airbus 330-300 will feature wireless internet and personal mobile usage on board, besides using the GSM, SMS and GPRS services.
The passengers flying onboard the new A330-300 will be able to make phone calls through their mobile phones with the same international call rates of their service providers, in addition to the ability to send SMS and using the mobile internet services. Customers using their own laptops will also be able to use the WI-FI service throughout their flight.
This new A330-300 accommodates 301 seats, of which 36 in business class and 265 in economy class. Business class customers will enjoy comfort of sleep on their Lay Flat Beds, or they will indulge themselves in hundreds of entertainment options with personal entertainment system screened on the 15.4” LCDs and recharge their personal devices while relaxing on their seats.
EgyptAir ’s newest A330-300 economy class seats provide wider and more relaxing seats with personal entertainment system to enable the customers and their families selecting from the best entertainment programs. They can also recharge their personal devices in their seats.
Captain Alaa Ashour, Chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Airlines said that “we are keen on the continuous development and upgrading of our services. These new services will enable our customers to keep in touch with their businesses, families and friends throughout the flight.”
