Hefny holds key meetings in London to boost investment, co-operation
By Mohamed Attia
Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El-Hefni, has held a series of high-level meetings in London to strengthen investment and technical co-operation between Egypt and the UK, a key partner in aviation, technology, and infrastructure.
During his visit, El-Hefni met with senior executives from major British and international firms specialising in airport infrastructure, sustainability, maintenance, and technical support. The discussions focused on fostering partnerships and exchanging expertise to enhance Egypt’s aviation sector.
Expanding EgyptAir’s fleet and modernising airports
El-Hefni outlined Egypt’s strategic plans to develop its aviation industry, highlighting the government’s goal to increase EgyptAir’s fleet to 97 aircraft by 2028. He also emphasised efforts to upgrade Cairo International Airport, positioning it as a key hub for long-haul travel in Africa.
The minister reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to public-private partnerships (PPPs) in airport management and operations, aiming to enhance service quality and operational efficiency. He stressed that Egypt is working on a comprehensive strategy to determine which airports could benefit from private-sector involvement, with the support of an international consultancy.
Strengthening ties with leading aviation firms
Among the key meetings held, El-Hefni met with Bardelmann Veronique and Mark Simmonds, executives from Safran UK, to explore ways to improve business class and economy seating, as well as in-flight entertainment for EgyptAir.
He also met with Carlton Redhead and Michelle Parsaut from Dunlop Aircraft Tyres to discuss a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering for the manufacturing and refurbishment of aircraft tyres.
Further discussions were held with Serkan Kaftan from TAV Airports Holding and executives from Aéroports de Paris (ADP), which operates 26 international airports worldwide. Talks focused on potential collaboration in airport management and operations in line with Egypt’s vision for private sector engagement.
In addition, meetings with Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure covered co-operation in airport infrastructure development and aircraft maintenance facilities.
MoUs signed to boost aviation co-operation
At the Egyptian embassy in London, El-Hefni witnessed the signing of several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between Egyptian and British aviation firms. These agreements aim to enhance airport infrastructure, aircraft maintenance, and technical support services.
During a panel discussion titled “Shaping the Future of Egyptian Civil Aviation,” hosted by the Egyptian-British Business Association (BETA), El-Hefni outlined Egypt’s long-term aviation strategy, including transforming Cairo into a regional cargo hub with the Cairo Air Cargo City project, increasing Egypt’s airport capacity to 100 million passengers by 2030 as well as forecasting 50.5 million passengers by 2025, indicating strong sector growth.
Cairo to become Africa’s main hub for long-haul travel
Ayman Arab, chairman of the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, reiterated that Cairo International Airport is set to become Africa’s primary long-haul travel hub. He emphasised the introduction of biometric technology and artificial intelligence to enhance passenger experience and operational efficiency.
Egypt has also secured its position on the global aviation map by hosting an ACI regional office in Cairo and organising major international aviation events.
Source: Gazette Staff