EGYPT: Air Cairo to develop Hurghada into major hub; Sabre enlisted to grow coordination with EgyptAir

CAIRO, Egypt

• Air Cairo Chairman Hussein Sharif plans to expand the fleet to 80 aircraft by 2028, allocating 40 to Hurghada Airport with a maintenance hangar and distributing the rest across other airports. The airline currently bases 16 aircraft at Hurghada and targets 17 by the end of 2028.
• Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny stated that EgyptAir and Air Cairo operate on integration rather than competition, with EgyptAir holding 60% of Air Cairo. The ministry has contracted Sabre Corporation to replan their combined network for higher efficiency and to support expansion.
• Air Cairo signed a letter of intent with Skyline Air Service Egypt to establish integrated cargo management in Cairo, Hurghada and Alexandria, covering sales, capacity, returns and network development.
• As previously reported, Air Cairo is planning to add its first widebodies - A330s - and recently placed its first direct order with Airbus for fifteen A320neo with fifteen options.

Sources:

• Maspero
• Ahram
• Dostor