El-Sisi directs involving private sector in Hurghada Airport development by year-end - Urban & Transport

Al-Ahram Weekly

6 hours ago

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi directed on Saturday that Hurghada International Airport be offered for private sector partnership by the end of 2025, signaling a push for modern development methods across the nation's aviation infrastructure.
The president's directive came during a meeting in Alamein City with Civil Aviation Minister Sameh ElHefny and EgyptAir In-Flight Services Chairperson Soheir Abdullah, according to a presidential statement.
The move is part of a broader strategy to involve international partnerships and private investment in developing Egyptian airports for efficiency and sustainability.
This aligns with Egypt's Vision 2030, which aims to transform airports into advanced regional hubs that operate with the latest global operational systems and an attractive investment environment.
During a recent interview with Ahram Online, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which serves as the technical advisor for this initiative, emphasized the importance of launching tenders for the first of 11 airports, including Hurghada, by the end of 2025.
IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop noted that this portfolio approach is designed to attract investment, mitigate transactional risks, and showcase Egypt's broader monetization strategy as both viable and scalable.
Cairo Int'l Airport
A core component of this strategy is the New Republic Air Gateway project at Cairo International Airport's Terminal 4.
During the meeting, Minister ElHefny presented technical specifications for this new passenger terminal, designed to handle at least 30 million passengers.
This expansion is expected to effectively double Cairo Airport's total annual capacity to over 60 million passengers, while maintaining stringent safety, security, and environmental standards.
According to Diop, Cairo and the other targeted airports are critical gateways for Egypt's tourism, trade, and regional connectivity.
He highlighted that modernizing infrastructure — from terminals to baggage systems — alongside expanding passenger capacity and implementing advanced technologies, such as automated check-ins, will directly support Egypt's economic recovery and global competitiveness.
The civil aviation sector's comprehensive plan, reviewed during the meeting, includes significant upgrades to airport infrastructure, development of the aircraft fleet, enhancement of air navigation, and improvements in human resource capabilities.
These efforts are geared towards boosting Egypt's tourism sector, with a national goal of attracting 30 million visitors annually.
In the first quarter of 2025, arrivals reached 3.9 million, representing a 25 percent year-over-year increase.
In 2024, 15.7 million tourists visited Egypt, an unprecedented number in the history of Egyptian tourism, marking a 6 percent increase over 2023.
Private sector integration, int'l recognition
ElHefny also detailed a national strategy, developed in collaboration with the IFC, to integrate the private sector into airport operations and development.
This strategy, expected to be finalized by the end of summer 2025, seeks to enhance performance, improve operational efficiency, and elevate traveler service quality.
Additionally, it aims to attract private investment and advanced operational expertise for 11 major airports, with the critical caveat that ownership of these vital assets will remain in public hands.
"These airports are strategically located to serve both tourism hotspots like Luxor, Aswan, and Sharm El-Sheikh, as well as commercial hubs," Diop told Ahram Online.
He explained that IFC will provide not only financing, but also technical and regulatory support to create a more investment-friendly climate and encourage global airport operators to engage through public-private partnerships.
Airspace and traffic management
Egyptian air traffic controllers have received international commendation for their efficient management of increased air traffic amid recent regional crises.
Despite airspace closures in neighboring countries, Daily flights over Egyptian airspace surged to more than 1,600.
International organizations, including Eurocontrol, ICAO, and IATA, have also praised their high performance, noting that safety and operational discipline were maintained.
The meeting also discussed plans to restructure Egyptian airspace and upgrade radar and communication technologies.
EgyptAir's significant achievements
The meeting also highlighted EgyptAir's significant recent achievements.
For the first time, the airline received the Best Airline Staff in Africa award for 2025 from global rating agency Skytrax at the Paris Air Show.
EgyptAir also secured the awards for Best Cabin Crew in Africa and Best Economy Class Meals. Moreover, it was named Most Improved Airline in Africa for the second consecutive year.
The minister also noted that EgyptAir has climbed 20 places to rank 68th globally among over 325 carriers.
Discussions also covered EgyptAir's fleet renewal plan, which aims to reach 97 aircraft by 2028/2029, boosting its competitiveness and enhancing the travel experience.
The meeting also reviewed efforts to upgrade EgyptAir's In-Flight Services, including infrastructure, equipment, staff training, ground services, and business class lounges, to ensure the highest comfort and service standards.
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