Egypt Air CEO bullish on aviation market growth, eyes long-haul expansion
Ahmed Adel, Chairman and CEO of Egypt Air, expressed strong optimism about the global aviation market, expecting continued growth in the coming years.
Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Adel said, “Right now we are very bullish on the aviation market. We are seeing growth in the Egyptian market over the next year and two years. Throughout 2027, we expect growth.” He also highlighted that Egypt Air had performed well in the past two years and expects this fiscal year to be even better.
Adel outlined plans to expand Egypt Air’s long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations. “We want to expand our network in capacity, frequency, and opening new routes,” he said.
Currently, Egypt Air operates a fleet of 65 aircraft comprising a mix of Boeing and Airbus models including A320s, A321s, 777-300s, 787s, and 737 NGs. The airline has a firm order for 10 Airbus A350-900s and 18 Boeing 737 MAX jets, which will support its growth ambitions.
Adel shared that Egypt Air is expected to receive 50 new aircraft from December 2025 through 2026. The airline has also extended the lease on five 777-300ER aircraft to maintain capacity during this period. “We should be good in capacity starting the first quarter of 2026,” he added.
On bilateral air traffic rights with India, Adel said Egypt Air is currently utilising about 60-70% of its allocated slots but aims to fully utilise 100% once the new aircraft arrive. India remains a very important market for the airline, with four weekly flights each to New Delhi and Mumbai, and plans to increase capacity further.
Looking ahead, Egypt Air plans to strengthen its presence in the North American market. Adel said, “In the long term, we will be focusing on the North American market. We’re looking to increase our capacity and frequency in North American markets, and when we receive all of our wide-body aircraft, we are looking into opening new points there.”
Addressing concerns about recent air accidents and geopolitical uncertainties, Adel emphasised the resilience of the aviation industry. “Aviation is still the safest means of transportation in the world,” he said. “The aviation industry has proven its resilience throughout the years. So, we are very confident that it will maintain its resilience, and whatever problems happen, we know we can deal with them and come out stronger.”