Egyptair to fly to Juba, eyes African expansion

CAIRO July 27 (Reuters) - Egyptair, the country's flagship carrier and one of Africa's largest airlines, will begin flying twice a week to south Sudan next month as Egypt seeks improved ties ahead of a planned 2011 referendum on secession.

The state-owned airline's flights to the southern capital Juba, will start on August 6, the company said on Tuesday, adding to its 26 flights a week to Khartoum.

"Expanding in Africa comes in line with a strategy to offer more services and investments in this continent, one of the fastest growing markets in the world," Hussein Massoud, chairman and chief executive officer of the Egyptair holding company, said in an emailed statement.

Egyptair, a member of the Star Alliance network, has also recently started flights to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and Abuja in Nigeria.

"We have ambitious expansion plans and we will continue to seek new destinations in Africa and increase the frequency of flights," said Captain Alaa Ashour, chairman of the airline.

Egypt has been looking to improve ties with south Sudan ahead of a planned 2011 referendum that would determine whether the largely Christian and animist south can secede from the Muslim north.

The referendum was promised in a 2005 peace deal that ended Africa's longest civil war -- a decades-long conflict between north and south Sudan in which an estimated 2 million people were killed and 4 million forced to flee their homes.

Egypt said in July it would give the government of south Sudan a non-refundable grant of $300 million for water and electricity projects as it seeks to build goodwill among Nile Basin countries, the source of almost all its water.

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EgyptAir eyes more presence in Africa

Egypt Air is seeking to extend its network in Africa and is looking for partners in the central or western regions of the continent with which it can cooperate, Chairman and CEO Hussein Massoud told ATW.

MS is evaluating several options, including potentially basing aircraft together with Star Alliance partner South African Airways and even starting a new airline. The new airline or joint aircraft base could be ready for operation as early as next year, Massoud said.

He believes it is possible for MS to open one or two new destinations in Africa every year (ATW Daily News, Oct. 16, 2009). It currently serves 16 destinations in Africa (excluding Egypt) and will add Lusaka this fall.

Massoud confirmed that the MS fleet is expected to grow from 66 to 72 aircraft by the end of 2013 or early 2014. The carrier is already planning its future fleet through 2020. “Early next year it will be clear" which type of aircraft it will purchase for its future fleet, he said, declining to give details on how many aircraft will comprise a new order.

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Egypt's airlines flying far

By Oxford Business Group July 27, 2010, 4:26 pm

CAIRO: The year 2010 is shaping up to be a banner one for Egypt’s air transport sector. Thanks to a worldwide industry rebound, steady passenger growth throughout the Arab world, continuing development of the country’s airport infrastructure and the recent entry of a host of low-cost carriers (LCCs) into the market, the months ahead look bright. Earlier this month, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) revised its global forecast for the year. Whereas just three months ago it projected a $2.8 billion loss for the worldwide airline industry, it now projects a $2.5 billion profit. It expects Middle Eastern carriers to net $100 million, their first profit since 2005, which is a marked improvement over the $600 million they lost last year. According to Brian Pearce, the IATA’s chief economist, Egypt is particularly well positioned to benefit from this turnaround. As he pointed out to Arabian Aerospace, the country’s overall economic growth “has been relatively robust. The Egyptian economy slowed down to a 4.7 percent [growth rate] last year, which is lower than we’ve seen before, but there was growth during a global recession.” That growth has been reflected in the airline sector, where Egypt has proved to be something of an exception. Whereas most of the region’s national carriers fared poorly in 2009 — a year that many insiders have called the worst in the sector’s history — Egypt saw a 4 percent increase in scheduled departures. With the H1N1 pandemic behind them and with Egypt’s airport infrastructure continuing to develop, Pearce projects further growth in the months ahead. On the basis of its actions, national carrier EgyptAir seems to agree with this assessment. It has recently taken delivery of its second Boeing 777-300 aircraft, and it intends to take delivery of two more 777s, as well as two A330s, later this year. It is also expanding its routes, adding non-stop service to Dubai in June and to Copenhagen in October. Moreover, it recently announced a new code-sharing agreement with Turkish Airlines, which is itself expanding in the Egyptian market by adding service to Alexandria. More important than EgyptAir’s growth, particularly in the medium to long term, is the recent entry of LCCs into the Egyptian market. First was Al Misria Universal Airlines, which began service in late 2009. Hassan Aziz, the company’s president and CEO, said that he wanted to take advantage of low prices during the global financial downturn to found a company that could tap growing demand in Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country. Al Misria took possession of its first A320 in April 2009 and hopes to expand the fleet to 10 planes in five years. Other investors agree with Aziz’s assessment. Two other new carriers, Nile Air and Nesma Airlines, plan to begin operations in the near future. Foreign LCCs have also begun to move into the Egyptian market. Flydubai has begun offering service to Alexandria, Luxor and Assiut, and Gulf Air has announced that it will begin serving Alexandria later this month. But the biggest news is Air Arabia’s decision to add a third hub in Egypt. UAE carrier Air Arabia, the Arab world’s largest listed airline, formed a joint venture with Travco, the Egypt-based travel and hospitality group which is the biggest in the Middle East, in late 2009. “Linking up with [an] established travel company like Travco rather than another airline made sense given the size of the international tourist market” in Egypt, said Air Arabian’s CEO, Adel Ali. The plan is for Air Arabia to handle operations while Travco provides access to its network of tour operators, helps with marketing and assists with government relations. The new carrier, which started operating this month with two A320s based out of Alexandria, plans to serve Europe, the Middle East and Africa and hopes to expand quickly. It expects to have four to six planes by the end of the year, and is already in discussions about adding another hub in Egypt by the Red Sea. “Low-cost air travel represents 25 percent of the market in Europe, [and] a miniscule 7 percent in the Middle East,” Ali said. Furthermore, incomes are lower in the Middle East, making such travel particularly attractive. Given this market structure, Ali anticipates steady expansion of the LCC sector. There will obviously be struggle over market share between the LCCs and incumbents, but, Pearce said, “because Egypt has a fast-growing economy I think there’s a scope to stimulate the market overall. It certainly means there’s more pressure for innovation and cost-cutting.” While additional hurdles remain, including a dispute with Saudi Arabia over sharing airspace and the need to formulate a true “open skies” policy, much progress has been made so far and Egypt is well on its way to realizing its ambition of turning Cairo into a major air hub. –This article was published by Oxford Business Group on July 26, 2010. Source

EGYPTAIR launch Juba service

EGYPTAIR from 06AUG10 is starting 2 weekly service to Juba in Sudan, its 2nd destination to the country. Service operates as Cairo – Khartoum – Juba with Boeing 737-500.

Schedule below:

MS859 CAI0900 – 1235KRT1320 – 1520JUB 735 3
MS859 CAI0915 – 1250KRT1335 – 1535JUB 735 5

MS860 JUB1605 – 1805KRT1850 – 2020CAI 735 3
MS860 JUB1620 – 1820KRT1905 – 2035CAI 735 5

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TAP Portugal/EGYPTAIR expands codeshare agreement

Star Alliance members TAP Portugal and EGYPTAIR on 01AUG10 expanded their codeshare agreement. TAP’s “TP” code is appearing on EGYPTAIR’s service between Italy and Egypt, while EGYPTAIR’s “MS” code appears on TAP service between Italy and Portugal.

Codeshare routes and flight numbers below:

Route	TP Codeshare	MS Operating
Milan Malpensa – Cairo	TP7005	MS704
Cairo – Milan Malpensa	TP7004	MS703
Milan Malpensa – Luxor	TP7027	MS706
Milan Malpensa – Sharm el Sheikh	TP7031	MS708
Sharm el Sheikh – Milan Malpensa	TP7030	MS707
Rome – Cairo	TP7001	MS792
Cairo – Rome	TP7000	MS791
Rome – Luxor	TP7019	MS794
Sharm el Sheikh – Rome	TP7034	MS717
	MS Codeshare	TP Operating
Milan Malpensa – Lisbon	MS9418	TP805
Lisbon – Milan Malpensa	MS9417	TP806
Rome – Lisbon	MS9415 MS9416	TP839 TP843
Lisbon – Rome	MS9414	TP834

EGYPTAIR W10 Operation Update 5

As per 27JUL10 GDS timetable display, latest changes to EGYPTAIR’s planned 2010/11 Winter International operation as follows.

New changes involved in aircraft swaps for Dubai and New York JFK.

Cairo – Dubai New Airbus A330-300 operates MS910/911 flight, departing Cairo Day x15, Dubai Day x26
Cairo – New York JFK Boeing 777-300ER aircraft inauguration date is now scheduled 31OCT10, previous planned date was 01JAN11

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Egyptair's First A330-300 picture!

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Egypt-Air/Airbus-A330-343X/1748863/M/&sid=69bff92e8fb624871fb0284919289382

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.”

EGYPTAIR W10 Operation Update 4

Cairo – Abu Dhabi 9 weekly service in Summer maintained in Winter (Daily in W09)
Cairo – Accra Schedule change from night-time to day-time.
MS881 CAI1845 – 2245ACC 738 x157 -30OCT10
MS882 ACC2345 – 0730+1CAI 738 x157 -30OCT10

MS881 CAI0815 – 1235ACC 738 x157 02NOV10-
MS882 ACC1335 – 2110ACC 738 x157 02NOV10-

Cairo – Benghazi Reduced 5 weekly service in Summer maintained (Daily in W09)
Cairo – Casablanca Boeing 737-800 replace Airbus A320
Cairo – Kuwait City Service operates 2 Daily (10 weekly in W09)
Cairo – Paris CDG 9 weekly service in Summer maintained in Winter (Daily in W09)
Hurghada – Geneva Winter seasonal service canceled

Other Winter 2010 changes noted previously:
30JUN10 Frankfurt Aircraft change Mumbai frequency increases
09JUN10 Osaka Frequency Increase
20MAY10 Abuja Operational Day Change New York JFK 777-300ER enters service from 01JAN11 Tokyo Narita Frequency Increase to Daily 01MAR11
05MAY10 Almaty Operational Schedule changes
04MAY10 Copenhagen NEW 3 weekly service

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EGYPTAIR boosts London Heathrow service

EGYPTAIR this month increases Cairo – London Heathrow service from 8 to 10 weekly. Schedule below:

MS777 CAI1030 – 1335LHR 77W D
MS779 CAI1330 – 1635LHR 330 67
MS779 CAI1800 – 2105LHR 330 5

MS778 LHR1500 – 2145CAI 77W D
MS780 LHR1800 – 0100+1CAI 330 67
MS780 LHR2230 – 0515+1CAI 330 5

MS777/778 from 01SEP10 operates with Airbus A330-300 (C36Y265).

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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.”

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