Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh al-Hefny announced that in mid-February, the ministry will sign a contract with the International Finance Corporation, according to which the Egyptian airports will be offered for management by the Egyptian and foreign private sectors, each separately.
During the celebration of the 95th anniversary of aviation, the minister explained that 11 airports will be offered, excluding Cairo Airport, through three forms of offering, the first of which is the offering under the management system, the second under the operation system, and the third under the concession system.
The minister explained that there are projects under implementation, including the construction of Terminal IV at Cairo Airport to increase the capacity to 30 million passengers annually, with the possibility of increasing it by an additional 10 million within four to five years.
He added that the Holding Company for Airports seeks to develop regional airports through a plan to increase the capacity of Hurghada Airport from 13-20 million passengers, and el-Alamein Airport to 1.5 million passengers.
The development plan also includes increasing the capacity of Sharm el-Sheikh Airport to 10 million passengers, Borg el-Arab Airport to six million passengers, Luxor Airport to six million passengers, Aswan Airport to 2.5 million passengers, and St. Catherine Airport to 800,000 passengers.
Hefny warned that in the coming period, the global aviation industry will witness a major crisis due to the severe shortage in the manufacture and maintenance of engines, which may lead to global companies not meeting the demand for contracted aircraft.
He explained that EgyptAir was supposed to receive 13 new aircraft, but deliveries to the company and others will be delayed.
However, despite these complications, the company succeeded in increasing operations, with the fleet units reaching 97 aircraft.
